The cost of living in Bermuda has gone up marginally, with the latest figures showing a 0.1 percent increase inflation to 2.7 percent.

According to the Bermuda Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics, the increased cost of food, rent, transport and health care pushed up the rate.

The all-items basket of goods on which the index is based rose from 111.0 points in July to 111.1 in August.

The price of food saw the most significant rise. Overall it went up by 0.4 percent, due mainly to increases in the price of fruits, vegetables and meats.

Raisins went up 5.5 percent, fresh carrots 5.9 percent and lettuce and cantaloupe both went up 3.3 percent.

Frozen and fresh liver went up 3.2 percent and fresh tenderloin rose 2.6 percent.

Rent, transport and vehicles and health and personal care all rose by 0.1 percent.

In the rent sector both controlled and decontrolled housing reported the rise.

Consumers paid a higher price for petrol as the cost of premium and mixed gas both rose by 1.5 percent and 1.5 percent respectively.

However these increases were offset by lower car prices, which were down nearly one percent. Discounted airfares also fell by 0.2 percent.

In the Health and Personal care sector the average cost of non prescription medicines and household medical supplies went up 0.8 percent.

But there is good news for smokers and drinkers. The cost of both tobacco and liquor slipped 0.5 percent.

And the fuel and power index also fell by 0.8 percent. There was a sharp fall of 11.4 percent in the fuel adjustment clause, which led to the fall in the cost of electricity during the month of August.

Household goods, services and supplies index fell also fell 0.1 percent. There was a fall in the cost of durable goods such as computers - down 19.5 percent and small household appliances.

The average prices for clothing, footwear, education, recreation and reading remained unchanged.

BUSINESS BUS