Bermuda consumers paid 2.9 percent more for goods and services in August than a year ago, figures released by Government showed yesterday.

This was 0.1 percent higher than the 2.8 percent rate of inflation recorded in June and July.

Higher costs can be attributed to year-on-year hikes in rents, fuel, school fees ? both overseas and at local private schools ? and some grocery items, according to the Consumer Price Index.

On a month-to month basis, clothing and footwear saw the steepest rise in pricing. Overall, items in this sector cost consumers 5.8 percent more at the till. Government said this had to do with fewer items being on sale after the closure of department store Trimingham Brothers Ltd. in July.

In addition, women?s clothing was 3.6 percent more expensive, children?s clothing rose 1.2 percent, and men?s outerwear was marginally more expensive by 0.3 percent. The grocery aisles also packed a punch with everyday items like bread (+11.3 percent), cake mixes (+2.9 percent), roast beef (+2.8 percent), canned fish (+2.5 percent) and fresh carrots (+2.5 percent) costing consumers more.

It also cost more to replenish water tanks with an 8.3 percent rise in water trucking services.

And like consumers around the world, residents again saw gas prices rise, paying out 0.6 percent more for premium gas while mixed gas rose 0.5 percent.

Electricity costs, which are influenced by the cost of oil, were also dearer in August for the second month running. An all-time high in electricity charges in July held tight with Belco?s fuel adjustment clause again registering at 5.9 cents per kilowatt hour. Increased fuel prices ? which reached an all-time high of $70 a barrel of crude in August ? pushed airfares higher in the month by 1.4 percent.

And it cost more to stay overseas as the price of hotel accommodations increased 0.7 percent. As oil hit its $70 high on August 30 pump prices in this report won?t have been impacted. Bermuda gas prices are revised on the 15th of each month.

A 0.1 percent year-on-year drop in health insurance premiums had a moderating influence on the yearly rate of inflation, Government?s report said.

But consumers paid more for health and personal care items in August compared to the previous month. The average price of toiletries, cosmetics and perfumes was 0.9 percent higher.

The Department of Statistics said it could not say which companies? health insurance premiums it tracks the price movement of, but confirmed policies considered in compiling the CPI statistics had posted a moderate decline from last year.understands that some Bermuda consumers have seen their health policy premiums rise during the period. Government?s health plan, HIP, was not a factor, the department said. In total, shoppers over the last decade have seen the price of goods and services rise from $100 to $132, the latest CPI report shows.

The Index, which is compiled by Government?s Statistics Department, tracks monthly pricing movement on a given basket of like goods and services. Bermuda?s 2.9 percent August inflation rate compares favourably to a 3.6 percent rise felt by US consumers. In 2004, Bermuda averaged an inflation rate of 3.6 percent ? higher than the previous 13 years.