reported sluggish sales, Government figures show.

Tourist spending also fell -- reflecting lower visitor numbers -- and the value of goods brought in by Islanders increased. The Government released the Retail Sales Index for September which painted a mixed picture of the local economy.

Petrol and vehicle sales were up by 5.4 percent compared with the same month in 1994, and most food shops reported strong sales -- up 7.6 percent on the same time last year.

But in other sectors of the economy, spending fell as more than half Bermuda shops taking part in the Index reported sluggish sales.

Overall, spending in the general retail sector fell by three percent after adjustment for inflation.

Tourist spending also fell during the month directly reflecting the drop in visitor numbers.

There was also an overall decline in liquor sales as total spending fell by 5.2 percent.

Although the total value of sales for September increased modestly by 1.3 percent with gross turnover in the retail sector estimated at $40.8 million, when inflation is taken into account, total sales value in Bermuda for September fell for the eighth consecutive month.

Government figures also show that in September, Bermudians returning from overseas vacations and business trips during September brought goods worth $2.48 million back -- an increase of 4.2 percent on the same time last year.

Meanwhile, Government has also announced changes in the prices of gasoline, down 0.6 cents a litre, diesel, up 0.5 cents a litre, and kerosene, up 0.9 cents a litre.

It means the maximum prices are 111.8 cents a litre for gasoline, 87.9 cents a litre for diesel and 67.8 cents a litre for kerosene.

CAR GOES THROUGH HEDGE AC Car goes through hedge A 50-year-old Warwick man was arrested after his station wagon ploughed through a hedge and dropped 14 feet into a garden.

The driver -- who escaped injury -- was helped out of the rear window of the wrecked car by the house owner and neighbours.

The man claimed he had lost control of his Mitsibushi while trying to avoid a parked van.

The accident happened on Friday night around 10 p.m. on Cobbs Hill Road, Warwick. Police attended the scene and arrested the driver on suspicion of impaired driving.

In a separate incident, a woman was taken to hospital suffering from a broke arm after her car crashed and overturned.

The 48-year-old Sandys woman was rushed to hospital after the accident, which happened in Cockburn Road around midnight on Friday.

The nearside of the car collided with a wall, bounced off, and hit the wall on the other side of the road before overturning.

A Police spokesman said that inquiries into both incidents were underway.

TWO ARRESTED AFTER DISTURBANCE CRM Two arrested after disturbance Two people were arrested yesterday after a disturbance at the Elbow Beach Hotel staff club, it was revealed yesterday.

Police were called to the club in the early hours of the morning after reports of trouble.

A Police spokesman said that a 24-year-old Smith's Parish man became aggressive and abusive towards officers and other members of the crowd joined in.

Reinforcements were called and the man was arrested. But a Police officer was cut on the head and bruised during the struggle.

A 38-year-old Southampton woman was also arrested for obstructing Police. Both the man and the woman are expected to appear in court on a date yet to be fixed.