“The largest increase came in the health and personal care sector and remained the largest contributor to the 12-month rate of price increases at 7.7 percent.”

The report added: “The food sector along with the transport and vehicles sectors also impacted strongly on the annual rate of inflation. Price shifts in these two sectors were 2.3 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.”

The monthly analysis showed that the transport and vehicle sector increased 1.2 percent in February, after a decrease of 1.7 percent January. The average price of overseas hotel accommodations and premium fuel rose by 5.3 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

It added: “Food prices in grocery stores inched up 0.3 percent in February. Fresh pineapples (7.6 percent), fresh calf liver (6.3 percent) and potato chips (3.7 percent) were some of the contributors to the increase.”

The education, recreation and reading sector rose 0.2 percent in February, while pet cost and upkeep, and the cost of pleasure boats and jet skis both increased 2.2 percent. In contrast, average prices of personal computers fell 2.6 percent.

Clothing and footwear was unchanged in February, as were household goods, services and communications. “Average prices of cleaning materials increased 1.2 percent, but was offset by a decrease in detergents and bleaches and food wraps and trash bags of 0.5 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively,” stated the report.

Rent was static in February with the average rental prices for properties not subject to rent controls decreasing by 0.2 percent. Conversely, home repair and maintenance costs increased by 1.1 percent.

The tobacco and liquor sector fell 0.1 percent in February, following an increase of 0.4 percent in January, while the average cost of spirits and wines decreased 0.5 and 0.1 percent, respectively.

Health and personal care decreased 0.1 percent in February. “The average cost of toiletries, cosmetics and perfumes dropped 0.6 percent while self-prescribed medicines and household medical supplies prices fell by 0.3 percent,” stated the report.

“Fuel and power declined 2.1 percent in February following a 2.9 percent decline in January.

“Residential consumers paid 2.2 percent less for electricity as a result of the lower fuel adjustment rate.”