Food inflation to be in single digit by March-end:Montek

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Planning Commission DeputyChairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today expressed confidencethat food inflation will come down to single digit level byMarch-end.

"It (food inflation) is still uncomfortable but I''m gladit''s coming down. I remain of the view that when the Marchdata becomes available, inflation will be well below what itis now," Ahluwalia told PTI on the sidelines of a conferenceon ''Recreating South Asia''.

When asked whether food inflation will come down tosingle digit by March-end, Ahluwalia replied, "Yes. It will."

Food inflation rose marginally to 11.49 per cent for theweek ended February 12 from 11.05 per cent in the previousperiod, driven by rising prices of milk, egg, meat andvegetables.

The marginal rise in food inflation for the seven-dayperiod ended February 12, snaps a fortnight of consecutivedecline during the weeks ended January 29 and February 5.

The headline inflation, however, has remained above 8per cent for quite some time. It was 8.23 per cent in January.