Wholesale inflation shot up to a 39-month high of 6 point 55 per cent in February this year, on account of costlier food and fuel items. Wholesale price based inflation had stood at 5.25 per cent in January this year, and 3.68 per cent in December last year.

According to official data, food inflation jumped to 2.69 per cent in February, from minus 0.56 per cent in January. Inflation in the fuel basket spurted to 21.02 per cent in February, from 18.14 per cent in January.