The cost of living in Bermuda has gone up for the first time in five months to 2.8 percent for the month of December 2000, according to Government figures.

Inflation, which is measured by the Consumer Price Index, had remained steady at 2.7 percent since August 2000.

But the marginal rise takes inflation to the highest levels since May, when it reached 2.9 percent.

The same level of inflation was recorded for December in 1999 at 2.8 percent, steadily rising to an all year high of 3 percent in March 2000.

Consumer prices on average went up by 0.2 percent between November and December, and the all-items index, based on an average basket of goods purchased by a household, went from 114.8 in November to 115.0 in December.

The cost of fuel and power posted the strongest movement during the month, jumping 2 percent. This was mainly due to an increase in the fuel adjustment charge, which surged 16.1 percent, driving the cost of electricity up by 2.3 percent.

The cost of food on the Island went up by 0.3 percent in December. The highest rise was in the price of imported lettuce, which soared by 13.5 percent.

Grapes rose 9.8 percent, cantaloupes 9.6 percent, cabbage 8.7 percent, tomatoes and broccoli 4.5 percent and potatoes 2.6 percent.

According to the Government's statistics department, the sharp rise in prices of fresh fruit and vegetables was partly due to the adverse cooler weather conditions experienced by the major growing regions in the southern parts of the United States.

The cost of rented property went up 0.7 percent with a rise of 1.1 percent in average rents paid for decontrolled properties.

The clothing and footwear sector showed no change, as did tobacco and liquor.

However within the alcohol section, there was a marginal decline in the average cost of spirits of 0.1 percent.

The household goods, services and supplies segment also remained unchanged in the whole. But household supplies saw some offsetting price movements -- writing materials fell 0.7 percent, insecticides and repellents fell 0.2 percent, while food wraps and trash bags rose 0.4 percent and detergents and bleaches went up 0.3 percent. The cost of transport and vehicles fell by 0.5 percent. The cost of at the gas station of both premium and mixed fuel fell by 3.6 percent and 3.4 percent respectively.

The price of education, recreation and reading contracted slightly by 0.1 percent.

And the price of personal care and health dropped off 0.2 percent. Consumers paid less, 4.1 percent, for prescribed medicines. In contrast, the cost of personal care items such as toiletries, cosmetics and perfume increased by 0.1 percent.