HONG KONG — The China inflation rate edged up in March, data released Monday showed, in a development that may dampen, but not eliminate, the chances of Beijing’s announcing added steps to prop up the flagging pace of growth.

Consumer prices in the giant Chinese economy rose 3.6 percent in March, compared with the rate of a year earlier, driven by a spike in the volatile prices for food. The increase was well above the February rate of 3.2 percent and was nearer the government’s official target of 4 percent than analysts had expected.

Unlike the situation in Europe and the United States, where growth is anemic and inflation subdued, China and other emerging economies have been seeing significant inflation as robust growth and rising costs for raw materials have pushed prices up.  Read more