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

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

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