Food inflation dropped by 0.06 to 17.81 per cent towards the end of February from 17.87 per cent in the previous week. However, the fuel inflation shot up due to a hike in excise and customs duty in the Budget.On year-on-year pulses were dearer by 33.38 per cent, slightly lower than over 35 per cent in the previous week. Potatoes turned costlier by 22.46 per cent while Onion rose by just 2.98 per cent. Overall vegetable prices shot up by 15.61 per cent, while milk prices was up 15.31 per cent and fruits 11.77 per cent.The budgetary announcement of a hike in excise and customs duty on petrol led to an increase in its prices by six per cent on weekly basis. On yearly basis, petrol prices rose 16.82 per cent.