The retail inflation rose to 5.37 percent in February on higher prices of food items, including vegetables and beverages.

The consumer price based retail inflation (consumer price index or CPI) for February is calculated with a new base year of 2012.

For January, the retail inflation with a new base year has been revised upwards to 5.19 percent from 5.11 percent estimated earlier.

The CPI in February last year was 7.88 percent. Food inflation during the month under review rose to 6.79 percent from 6.06 percent in January.

The rise in inflation in food items was mainly due to costlier vegetables, pulses and beverages.

The rate of price rise in vegetables went up by 13.01 percent; in pulses and products by 10.61 percent, while the same in the food & beverages category rates moved up by 6.76 percent. Inflation in fruits was 8.93 percent.

For rural segment, retail inflation was 5.79 percent in February 2015 and that for urban centres 4.95 percent.