The point-to-point inflation rate based on wholesale price index for March 2012 eased to 6.9% from 9.7% a year ago. But the index of manufactured food products hardened from 2.4% to 5.9% and the overall food index, including primary food articles, also hardened from 6.8% to 8.5%. Inflation rates of minerals and fuel and power continued to rule high at elevated two-digit levels. The overall inflation rate on a monthly average basis for 2011-12 stood relatively high at 8.8%, though it had moderated from 9.6% in 2010-11.