Dearer food items lifted wholesale inflation into the positive zone for the first time in 18 months, to 0.34 per cent in April. Wholesale inflation had stood at minus 0.85 per cent in March this year, and minus 2.43 per cent in April last year. Data from the Commerce and Industry ministry showed that food inflation rose to 4.23 per cent in April. Wholesale inflation in vegetables climbed to 2.21 per cent in April, and in pulses it rose to 36.36 per cent. Wholesale inflation in manufactured products was 0.71 per cent during the month.