The inflation in the UAE hit a nearly six-year high of 4.3 per cent on an annual basis in March, according to a report.

The housing and utility costs, which account for over 39 per cent of consumer expenses, jumped 9.3 per cent from a year earlier in March, reported the Emirates National Bureau of Statistics citing the March consumer price data.

Abu Dhabi, the biggest emirate in the UAE, hiked electricity and water tariffs from January 1, while the real estate market has been rising strongly, stated the report, indicating that the annual inflation was at its highest level since February 2009.

The food and soft drink prices, which account for nearly 14 per cent of the basket, edged up 1.1 per cent.-Reuters