The annual rate of inflation abated during the month of July, according to the data released yesterday by the Bermuda Department of Statistics.Consumers paid 2.5 percent more in July 2012 than they did a year ago for the CPI basket of goods and services.This rate of inflation was lower than the 2.7 percent measured in June and the 2.9 percent measured in May.However, while inflation dropped, the average cost of goods and services in the CPI rose 0.1 percent between June and July this year.The all-items index increased from 119.7 to 119.8 index points. This means that the basket of goods and services that cost $100.00 in April 2006 now cost $119.80.The Health & Personal Care sector continued to be the largest contributor to the twelve-month increase in the Consumer Price Index.On average, the cost of Health & Personal care items increased 5.8 percent year-over-year.The Food and Fuel & Power sectors also impacted strongly on the annual rate of inflation, as price shifts in these sectors were 4.5 percent and 16.9 percent, respectively.Residential electricity costs rose by 2.5 percent in response to a 5.1 percent jump in the fuel adjustment rate.Notable price changes for selected food items included lettuce, up 8.6 percent, eggs, up 5.7 percent and oranges, up 4.9 percent.The Rent sector fell 0.1 per cent in July.A 0.2 percent increase in properties subject to rent control was offset by a 0.3 percent decrease in rental units not subject to rent control.The Transport & Vehicles sector prices fell 0.5 percent on average