Within food inflation, vegetable prices emerged as one of the fastest-growing contributors, with their share rising to 37% from 22.7% three months earlier. Protein-rich foods- including fish, meat, eggs and milk- remained the largest contributor, accounting for 46% of food inflation. Core inflation also rose to 8.4% from 8%, largely due to higher transport and communication costs. Fuel inflation climbed to 17% from 14.9%, driven by higher prices of gas, lubricants and other petroleum products. Inflation in fuel and lubricants surged to 13.8% from 1.7%, while gas inflation rose to 24% from 11.3%.