Inflation seen touching 10% by March '10

 The annual rate of inflation, which crossed the one per cent mark for week ended October 10 after remaining below zero level for more than seven months, is likely to swell to 10 per cent by end of the current fiscal 2009-2010, cautions Assocham.

The surge in inflation will be primarily driven by soaring food prices, low base effect and rising manufacturing costs, it said in a study.  
Several economic think tanks have projected that inflation would start rising in the beginning of third quarter of the current fiscal.

Prime Minister Economic Advisory Council has projected that inflation may cross the 6 per cent mark by March 31 next year.