The much anticipated consumer price index report also showed a 8.5% year-on-year gain, the hottest reading since the early days of the Reagan administration.
Fuel and gas prices topped the list as Russia's war against Ukraine boosted the cost of oil to record highs.
Rent prices rose the highest level since 1991.
The price of groceries saw their biggest spike since 1981.
And the price of new cars saw the biggest ever spike in the report's history.
Bankrate.com's chief financial analyst Greg McBride.
"This month, in particular, more than half of the increase was attributable to the rise in gas prices. Gas prices were up 18% in the month of March alone. But over the course of the last year we've seen some categories that tend to show up on a regular basis in terms of fueling this inflation. And, unfortunately, they're necessities. It's food. It's energy. And it's shelter."
Senior White House officials said President Joe Biden will unveil plans to expand the availability of biofuels this summer to help rein in soaring gas prices.
The March CPI reading also bolstered the case for aggressive action from the Federal Reserve, which is expected to hike interest rates by half a percentage point at next month's meeting.
