India's wholesale price inflation rose for the fifth consecutive month in March, reaching 3.88% — up sharply from 2.13% in February and 2.25% in March last year. Government data released on Wednesday attributed the increase to a spike in fuel, power, and manufactured goods prices, linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis driving up crude oil costs. Vegetable prices offered some relief, with food inflation in that category easing to 1.45% in March from 4.73% the previous month.