By Lamia Nabil 

The inflation rate has increased by 0.8% last march compared to February 2013, and 8.2% compared to March 2012, while in the first quarter of 2013 reached 7.8%, according to a recent CAPMAS report.

Egypt has been hit with a rise in prices for a number of products, adding to the problems of skyrocketing unemployment, depleting foreign currency reserves and a major fuel shortage.

In urban areas the inflation rate increased by 0.6% last March compared with February 2013, and hit 7.6% compared with March 2012, rising to 7.3% in the first quarter.

Whereas in rural areas the inflation rate increased by 0.9% last March compared to February 2013, and hit 8.9% compared to March 2012, while it hit 8.4% in the first quarter of 2013.