The annual rate of inflation remained at 1.9 percent in December, unchanged from November, with the increase in health and personal care costs the biggest driver of the increase in the cost of living.Year over year, the health and personal care sector saw a 7.7 percent jump in costs, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures released yesterday by the Department of Statistics.Key factors leading to the increase were higher prices for health insurance and prescription medicines.The food and transport sectors also impacted strongly on the annual rate of inflation. The price increases in these sectors measured 2.9 percent and two percent, respectively.In the month-to-month analysis, CPI figures showed that fuel and power sector prices rose 2.9 percent in December when compared to November. As such, consumers experienced a 3.1 percent increase in the cost of electricity. Drivers also felt a hit at the pump, paying 0.4 percent more for fuel in December and travellers paid 6.4 percent more in air fares.The tobacco and liquor sector also climbed 0.1 percent in December.These increases were offset by falling food prices in December, which decreased one percent due to discounted holiday specials offered in supermarkets. Consumers experienced lower prices when purchasing food items such as: potatoes (-8.5 percent), eggs (-5.9 percent) and mayonnaise (-5 percent).The transport and vehicles sector decreased two percent during the month, in part reflecting a 13.4 percent decline in overseas hotel accommodations.Household, goods, services and supplies, along with the rent and education sectors, all remained static in December.Between November and December 2012, the average cost of goods and services in the CPI fell 0.3 percentage points. The all-items index declined from 120.5 in November to 120.1 in December. This means that the basket of goods and services that cost $100 in April 2006 now costs $120.10.