Consumers paid 2.8 percent more in February than they did a year ago for goods and services due mostly to higher prices for rent, food, fuel and transport, according to the Department of Statistics.

This pace of inflation moved ahead from the 2.5 percent measured in January 2005.

On a month-to-month basis, the average costs for the basket of goods and services included in the CPI rose 0.4 percent between January and February 2006.

The all-items index increased from 133.5 index points in January to 134.0 points in February. This means that the basket of goods and services which cost $100 in January of 1995 now costs $134.

The rent sector was the strongest contributor to the twelve-month increase in the CPI as rent prices climbed 3.2 percent.

Prices for controlled properties rose 4.8 percent between February 2005 and February 2006 while properties that are not subject to rent control recorded a year-on-year increase of 2.6 percent.

The Food, Transport and Vehicles sectors also impacted on the increase in the annual rate of inflation while the Fuel and Power sector registered the largest year-over year increase with an 8.5 percent jump in prices.

On a month-to-month basis, the rent sector recorded a 0.6 percent increase between January and February 2006.

The Department of Statistics said the overall increase in this sector was due primarily to a 0.7 percent rise in the price of properties not subject to rent control.

The average price of properties under rent control experienced a 0.4 percent gain.

Costs for the Transport and Vehicle sector leapt 1.6 percent overall in February 2006 due mostly to higher prices for new vehicles and bikes.

The Department of Statistics said increases in overseas hotel rates also helped push this sector higher while gasoline prices remained virtually unchanged for February 2006.

Prices for food edged down 0.3 percent in February 2006 mostly due to a 2.1 percent slip in the price of fruit juice concentrate and a 3.5 percent decline in the price of canned fish.

The Fuel and Power sector advanced 0.5 percent as higher worldwide demand for heating fuel sent prices up 5.2 percent in February 2006.

The average cost of Household Goods Services and Supplies edged up 0.1 percent from January 2006.

The Education, Recreation and Reading sector, the Health and Personal care sector, the clothing and footwear sector and the tobacco and liquor sector reported no change for the month of February 2006.