CAIRO, March 8 (MENA) – The monthly inflation rate has surged by 0.3 per cent in February to stand at 267 points against 266.3 points in January, the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) said on Thursday. In its monthly bulletin,the CAPMAS said that the annual inflation rate recorded 14.3 per cent last month compared to 31.7 per cent in February 2017. Prices of food and beverages increased by 0.8 per cent in February compared to January. According to the bulletin, the inflation rate in urban areas went down by 0.3 per cent in February to record 258 points. In rural areas, the inflation rate increased by 0.3 per cent in February to reach 277.1 points.