Bermuda's inflation rate remained in the four percent and over bracket for the fourth successive month in August, the Government announced yesterday.

Consumers paid 4.0 percent more for typical household goods and services in August this year than they did 12 months earlier. The inflation rate fell slightly from the 4.3 percent figure in July.

That compares to an inflation rate of two percent in the US, 1.7 percent in Canada and 4.1 percent in the UK.

The fuel and power sector showed a dramatic monthly rise of 4.6 percent, resulting from higher electricity costs, as the fuel adjustment charge shot up by 10 percent.

Year-on-year rises in the cost of transport and vehicles (8.8 percent), health and personal care (6.7 percent) and fuel and power (5.3 percent) were the main drivers of the increase in the cost of living, the Consumer Price Index figures showed.

Although premium and mixed gasoline prices fell compared to August 2006, this was offset by higher travel costs, including higher airfares and hotel rates.

The cost of food rose 3.6 percent compared to a year earlier, while rents rose 1.8 percent.