The inflation rate jumped to 2.3 per cent in August, up 0.6 of a percentage point from a year ago.

And between July and August, the average cost of goods and services in the consumer price index edged up 0.1 per cent. A basket of goods that cost $100 in April 2015 now costs $104.

Year-on-year, it was the transport and foreign travel sector that was the largest contributor to the inflation rate rise. Increased prices of premium fuels caused this sector to increase by 7.7 per cent. Additionally, fuel and power and the food sector were up 9.8 per cent and 2.7 per cent, respectively.

A month by month analysis showed that the average cost of women’s hairstyling was up 8.4 per cent, as the broader health and personal care sector advanced 0.5 per cent.

Notably higher prices for salad dressing, condensed milk and pork loin contributed to a 0.1 per cent rise in the food sector during August.

The only other sector that increased in August was education, recreation, entertainment and reading, rising 0.2 per cent in response to an increase in the average cost of televisions.

The data was released by the Bermuda Government Department of Statistics.