China's inflation accelerated more than forecast in March on a pickup in food prices, signaling that policy makers may exercise caution in adding stimulus to boost growth.

Consumer prices rose 3.6 percent from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said today. That was more than the median 3.4 percent estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of 33 economists. Food-related costs gained 7.5 percent.

Today's data show Premier Wen Jiabao's officials may need to remain alert to the risk of inflation bouncing back even after price increases stayed below the government's 4 percent target for a second month. China's economy may have expanded last quarter at the slowest pace in almost three years, showing the limits of the nation's contribution to global growth as U.S. job growth weakens and concern mounts about Europe's sovereign-debt crisis.