nine years not only when filling up their vehicles at the pump, but in high electricity bills as well.

The consumer price index for January shows the fuel and power sector realising a price increase of 2.5 percent with the fuel adjustment clause between December and January rising a whopping 16.1 percent.

The increases were transferred to customers and households experienced a 1.6 percent rise in the average cost of electricity in January.

The price of a cylinder of propane gas also rose.

But the rate of inflation was unchanged from December and stood at 2.8 percent in January. During the month the consumer price index rose .3 percent shifting from 111.9 index points in December 1999 to 112.2 in January 2000.

The household good services and supplies index edged up .4 percent with daycare services for preschoolers seeing a 3.9 percent rise.

Tobacco and liquor prices increased marginally at .2 percent while the food basket inched up .3 percent.

Fresh foods items realised the greatest increases. Tenderloin went up 2.8 percent, black grapes 8.6 percent, cantaloupes 3.9 percent, cabbage 5.7 percent and lettuce 2.2 percent.

Price movements in the remaining sectors of the index were restrained in January. Rent, clothing & footwear, transport & vehicles, health & personal care all increased a modest .1 percent.

There was no month-to-month change in the education, recreation & reading sector.

BUSINESS BUC