Bermuda consumers paid 2.9 percent more for goods and services in October than a year ago, but price increases for rents and education were offset by a decline in fuel prices.

Government said that month on month, costs were 0.1 percent higher, with September?s annual rate of inflation recorded at 2.8 percent.

The report means that inflation, which rocketed up to 4.1 percent in March this year as oil prices surged, has now been below three percent for the last five months.

The year-on year rise was largely attributed to an increase in rents in the last 12 months, and was also pushed higher by rising grocery prices and more costly education, recreation and reading costs.

Controlled rental rates were 0.4 percent higher than a year ago, while uncontrolled rental properties saw little price fluctuation.

Compared to September, Bermuda residents paid out 2.5 percent more to power their homes.

This was primarily the result of electricity costs rising 2.8 percent during October because of Belco?s Fuel Adjustment Clause advancing 12.5 percent.

Also in October, consumers paid out 1.2 percent more for health and personal care services, mostly because of higher medical care costs.

Consumers paid more to go to the dentist (13.3 percent), to visit the doctor (5.7 percent) and the cost of delivering a baby was also higher (6.6 percent).

At the grocery till, shoppers also paid out 0.2 percent more with the cost of fresh grapes being 5.6 percent higher, and the cost of eggs and vegetable shortening each rose 2.1 percent.

The price of beer also rose 0.5 percent.

Consumers doing up their homes would also have found it more expensive to refurbish their floors during the month with floor covering prices rising 3.5 percent.

There were at least two areas that shoppers may have saved money: recreational equipment fell three percent and fuel costs were also lower, with boat fuel and gasoline each falling 4.2 percent as global crude prices went lower.