New Delhi, September 12: According to a data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), retail inflation rose to a five-month high of 3.36 per cent in August due to costlier vegetables and fruits. As per the data, the consumer price index (CPI) based inflation stood at 2.36 per cent in the previous month. Also Read - India's August WPI up at 0.16%, Riding on High Food, Fuel Prices

PTI reported that the August inflation number is the highest since March 2017, when it was recorded at 3.89 per cent. As per the government data released on Tuesday, overall food inflation in August has also moved up, reversing the deflationary trend, to 1.52 per cent. Also Read - India's Wholesale Inflation Drops to 0.58% in July But Food Prices Soar

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) data also stated that the daily consumables like fruits and vegetables turned costlier during the month with inflation print coming at 5.29 per cent and 6.16 per cent, respectively as against 2.83 per cent and (-)3.57 per cent in July. Also Read - Retail Inflation Increases to 6.09% in June

Likewise, prepared meals, snacks and sweets as a category turned dearer with the rate of price rise at 1.96 per cent from 0.43 per cent in July.

Also, transport and communication means were costlier during the month with inflation rising to 3.71 per cent from 1.76 per cent in July.

However, items such as cereals and products, meat and fish, oils and fats became cheaper at inflation prints at 3.87 per cent, 2.94 per cent and 1.03 per cent, respectively.

With agency inputs