New Delhi, Mar 12 (IANS): India's consumer price based inflation accelerated to 10.91 percent in February as compared to 10.79 percent in the previous month due to a sharp increase in the prices of vegetables, edible oil and protein-based products, government data showed Tuesday.

This is the fifth consecutive month of increase in the retail inflation measured in terms of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The retail inflation was registered at 9.90 percent in November and entered into double digit in December when it was recorded at 10.56 percent.

Price rise was sharper in rural areas than urban. According to the data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) retail inflation jumped to 11.01 percent for rural areas in February as compared to 10.79 percent in the previous month, while for urban areas it increased to 10.84 percent in the month under review from 10.73 percent in the previous month.

Vegetables became costlier by 21.29 percent. Cereal prices increased by 17.04 percent year-on-year in February and oil and fats became costlier by 14.56 percent.

Egg, fish and meat became costlier by 15.72 percent and pulses became costlier by 12.39 percent during the month under review.