Consumers paid 2.8 percent more for goods and services in November, 2005 than a year ago with increased prices for rents were offset by declines in food and gas prices.

This rate of price increase fell below the 2.9 percent recorded in the previous month. The Department of Statistics said that between October and November of 2005, the average cost of goods and services in the Consumer Price Index remained unchanged. The all-items index stayed constant between October and November of 2005 at 133.3 index points. This means that the basket of goods and services which cost $100 in January 1995 now costs $133.30.

The Rent sector was the largest contributor to the year-on-year increase as prices increased 0.3 percent during the month to 2.9 percent year over year in November of 2005. The increase was the result of a 0.5 percent rise in the prices of properties not subject to rent control while the average price of property under rent control increased by 0.2 percent.

The food sector fell 0.1 percent for the month with a 2.1 percent decline on the price of dairy products and a 2.3 percent decline in the price of fresh fruit the main contributors.

The transport and vehicles sector experienced a 1 percent drop for the month of November 2005 as a result of falling gas prices due to lower world crude oil prices. In addition, the average cost for a new vehicle fell 0.1 percent.

The education, recreation and reading sector and the clothing and footwear sector experienced no movement for the month of November.

The fuel and power sector advanced 0.5 percent during the month of November 2005 due to a 6.2 percent jump in the cost of propane fuel.

?Supply constraints in the US heating fuel industry caused by Hurricane Katrina along with higher demand as a result of the winter season have pushed up world-wide heating fuel prices,? noted the Department of Statistics.

The health and personal care sector increased 0.1 percent overall due to higher costs for self-prescribed medicines and household medical supplies.