That was the opinion of Chief Government Statistician, Miss Janet Smith commenting on October's consumer price index released yesterday.

"The overall index is fairly steady,'' she said. "There has not been much change since September. Inflation is rising very slowly.'' The index showed the annual rate of inflation in the 12 months to October was 2.5 percent -- one tenth of a percent higher than the previous 12-month period to September 1994.

And the monthly change in the October all-items index was 0.2 percent, rising from 146.9 in September to 147.2 percent in October.

Other findings were: Increased prices on selected winter items led to a 1.7 percent monthly gain in the clothing and footwear sector; The fuel and power sector saw a 0.7 percent increase because of an eight-percent surge in the fuel adjustment clause between September and October. The cost of electricity increased by 0.8 percent while cooking gas prices were unchanged; Properties in the higher rent ranges rose causing a 0.2 percent monthly change in the rent sector. These were partially offset by decreases in the household, appliance & services sector. Marginal increases in household equipment, 1.1 percent, and furniture and bedding, 0.8 percent, were counteracted by decreases in all household products, down 0.2 percent; Education, recreation and reading fell 0.1 percent because of a 0.1 percent decrease in recreational equipment; Health and personal care also fell by 0.1 percent in response to price drops in cosmetics and personal care products, and; Food was up 0.1 percent and tobacco and liquor rose by 0.1 percent.

There was no change in the transport and vehicles sector.