it was revealed yesterday.

And spending on school and college fees contributed to a inflation increase of 0.4 per cent between August and September.

The total cost of the education, recreation and reading sector rose by 2.5 per cent on the month to the end of September, caused by fee increases in the private sector.

The education figures were increased further by hikes in the cost of overseas college tuition.

School fees in Bermuda rose by an average of 5 percent in September, while overseas college fees jumped by 5.6 percent.

Private day nursery fee increases also rose by 1.9 per cent from August.

Together with higher prices for household supplies like cleaning materials and detergents, the household goods, services and supplies sector rose by 0.3 per cent.

The news was contained in the latest consumer price index.

The price of food also rose by 0.3 per cent from August to September, while the cost of rent and what Bermudians spend on transport and vehicles both increased by 0.2 per cent.

But spending on fuel and power dropped over the same period, falling by 1.1 per cent, largely due to a contraction in the Government-set gas adjustment clause.

The figures mean the annual rate of inflation stood at 2.6 percent in the twelve months to the end of September, unchanged from the figure recorded for August.