Wholesale inflation climbed to a two-year high of 3.74 per cent in August this year. Inflation rose amid an uptick in the rate of price rise in pulses and manufactured items, even as it declined sharply in vegetables. Wholesale price-based inflation had stood at 3.55 per cent in July this year, and minus 5.06 per cent in August last year. According to Commerce Ministry data, overall food inflation dropped to 8.23 per cent in August, from 11.82 per cent in July. Wholesale inflation in vegetables cooled to 0.17 per cent in August, from 28.05 per cent in July. Inflation in pulses stood at 34.55 per cent, and in potatoes at 66.72 per cent. But in onions wholesale inflation was minus 64.19 per cent. Inflation in sugar was 35.36 per cent. But a deflationary trend continued in petrol, at minus 8.65 per cent, and minerals, at minus 3.44 per cent. Wholesale inflation in manufactured articles rose to 2.42 per cent in August.