The consumer price index was measured at 102.37 in March, up 0.41% month-on-month and 1.24% year-on-year, on rising prices of fresh foods and fuel, the Commerce Ministry announced.
Pimchanok Vornkorporn, director-general of the ministry's Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said on Monday the CPI index rose for the third consecutive month this year. Fresh food prices increased for the fifth consecutive month and fuel prices went up for the first time in four months.
In March prices of foods and non-alcoholic beverages rose 2.38% year-on-year whole rice, flour and flour-based products increased by 4.58%, meat by 4.70%, eggs and dairy products 0.81%, and vegetables and fruits 2.77%.
Prices of non-food and non-beverage products rose by 0.58%.
"Inflation in March resulted mainly from rising prices of fresh vegetables due to drought. They soared 9.54%... Their prices are likely to go up further and there could be an insufficient supply," Ms Pimchanok said.
Fuel prices rose 2.27% year-on-year and were likely to continue to increase in the future, she said.
The Commerce Ministry maintained its inflation projection for this year at 0.7-1.7%, she said.
