WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. imported prices accelerated in March by their highest point in over 11 years. This was due to the fact that Russia’s war on Ukraine boosted oil prices. Another sign of high inflation which could continue for a long time.

The Labor Department reported that import prices rose 2.6% last month. This is the biggest increase in price since April 2011 after an increase of 1.6% during February. Prices rose 12.5% in March after rising 11.3% last February. This is the biggest gain since September 2011. Reuters economists polled had predicted that import prices would increase 2.3%, but exclude tariffs.

Russia-Ukraine conflict has pushed up oil prices and other commodities like sunflower oil and wheat.

This week’s government data showed that consumer prices increased by more than 16-1/2 percent in March. Producer prices saw their greatest gain since December 2009. The Federal Reserve increased its policy interest rate in March by 25 basis point and indicated bigger rate increases down the road.

After rising 10.0% last February, import fuel prices rose 14.6% in March. Oil prices rose by 16.1% last month, and imported food costs increased 0.1%.

Import prices rose 1.2%, excluding fuel and food. Core import prices rose 0.7% in February. In March, they climbed 7.1% year over year.

Also, export prices rose 4.5% in March. This is the highest increase since January 1989 when the monthly series began. In February, they had risen 3.0%.

Export prices rose by 4.7% Nonagricultural export prices vaulted 4.5%. The March increase in export prices was 18.8% year-over-year. It was the highest increase since February, which had seen a 16.5% rise.