Retail prices of sugar, which is continuously rising since early last year, have shot up by five rupees to 44 rupees a kg in Delhi in the last one week and may rise further as wholesale rates are inching up. According to government data, sugar prices as on January six was at 44 rupees a kg, up from 39 on December 31, 2009. Sugar prices have more than doubled from the 21 rupees level in the beginning of last year on concerns of production falling short of demand and firming global rates. Industry is attributing the recent spurt in sugar prices to firm international rates, which has made imports costlier.<br/>