New Delhi, March 24: Food inflation moved back to double digits at 10.05 per cent for the week ended March 12 on the back of costlier vegetables, fruits and protein-based items.

Food inflation, which has been showing a declining trend for the last three weeks, stood at 9.42 per cent in the week ended March 5.

It was more than double at 20.62 per cent in the year-ago period.

During the week under review, prices of vegetables went up 11.20 per cent year-on-year.

Fruits became costlier by 23.60 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 13.21 per cent.

Experts said the demand-supply mismatches were responsible for the sudden spurt in the prices of food items.

“Being perishable, prices of fruits and vegetables tend to display considerable volatility, reflecting prevailing demand-supply dynamics. Broadly, food prices are expected to ease subsequent to the rabi harvest,” Icra economist Aditi Nayar said.

The rate of price rise in food items, which accounts for over 14 per cent of overall inflation, may prompt the RBI to hike key policy rates. Headline inflation has been above 8 per cent since March 2010. It stood at 8.31 per cent in February this year.