VIENTIANE, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Inflation in Laos jumped to 9.7 percent year on year in March from 6.2 percent in February, according to the Lao Statistics Bureau on Sunday.

The highest price rise was recorded in the goods and services category, which stood at 39.8 percent, according to a report released on the bureau's website.

The surging inflation in March was largely driven by instability in the Middle East, which disrupted the production and transportation of fuel oil, it said.

However, the recent stabilization of the Lao kip has helped mitigate additional pressure on import costs by reducing the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, according to the report. ■