Inflation in Ukraine climbed to 8.5 percent year-on-year in March, the State Statistics Service said, following a trend of quickening price rises in recent months.

In January, the year-on-year rate stood at 6.1 percent and in February at 7.5 percent.

The central bank last month raised its base rate to 6.5 percent from 6.0 percent to rein in price rises and another rate rise may be in store at a meeting  this week.

The central bank has forecast annual inflation in 2021 of  7 percent.