Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) slipped to 5(point)70 per cent in March as manufactured goods showed cost decline even as food prices hardened. The WPI inflation, reflecting the annual rate of price rise, in February was 6.55 per cent. According to official data released today, food prices saw a sharp rise of 3.12 per cent in March compared to 2.69 per cent in the previous month. This is primarily because of a steep price jump in vegetables where inflation stood at 5.70 per cent. As for fruits, the figure was also high at 7.62 per cent, while for egg, meat and fish, it was 3.12 per cent. Fuel inflation declined to 18.16 per cent, from 21.02 per cent in February. The manufactured items witnessed some softening in price rise, with inflation at 2.99 per cent in March, as against 3.66 per cent in the previous month.The government also revised upwards January inflation to 5.53 per cent from the provisional estimate of 5.25 per cent.