The inflation rate rose to 1.4 per cent in November according to the latest government statistics — but the rise in the cost of living was dampened by the continuing fall in electricity costs.

Fuel and power sector costs plunged 11.3 per cent from November 2014, thanks mainly to a plunge in global oil prices that has come with great benefits for the Bermuda consumer.

The sector saw a 1.3 per cent fall in costs in November from the previous month alone as the fuel adjustment rate levied on Belco bills fell by 4 per cent to 12 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). The downward trend has continued since November, as the rate has fallen a further 16.7 per cent to the 10 cents charge applying to January electricity bills.

By way of comparison, the fuel adjustment rate averaged 12.22 cents per kWh in 2015 and 16.87 cents in 2014.

The electricity bill boost has come from a more than 70 per cent slide in the global price of crude oil — which was yesterday selling at around $33 a barrel — over the past year and a half, which has reduced the cost of the fuel that powers Belco’s generators.

The health and personal care sector was the biggest driver of inflation and was 7 per cent higher than in November 2014, according to government statistics.

Inflation climbed to 1.4 per cent from October’s 0.6 per cent, which was a six-year low.

The basket of goods and services represented by the Consumer Price Index, which cost $100 in April 2015, cost $100.50 in November.

Food prices were up 1.6 per cent year over year, while household goods and services costs rose 2.9 per cent.

However, food prices fell 0.5 per cent in November from the month before, thanks partly to decreases in the price of fresh ground beef (down 4.3 per cent), fresh carrots (3.8 per cent) and salad dressing (3.4 per cent).