Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the prices of essential commodities have improved.

On the occasion of inaugurating a conference on the Kharif Campaign, Pawar said, "The situation on rising prices of sugar, potato and other essential commodities have improved. The situation is definitely changing and it is a good sign."

According to official data revealed on Monday, driven by increasing food prices, India's annual rate of inflation, based on the wholesale price index, rose to 9.89 percent in February from 8.56 percent in the previous month.