continued to rise steadily in the past year.

According to the latest Statistics Department figures, inflation was 2.8 percent in October, the same as September.

But the cost of living has continued to nudge up throughout the year. The year-on-year increase in January was 1.9 percent, but now it is 2.8 percent.

The biggest price rise was in the fuel sector, where a 24.4 per cent surge in the fuel adjustment clause (FAC) in October pushed electricity costs up 2.1 per cent. The rise in FAC has been attributed to the continued increase in the world market price for cetane, which BELCO uses.

Consumers paid more for dental and eye care examinations.

The food index nudged up by 0.4 percent caused by price rises in such foods as fresh carrots.

The rent sector increased by 0.2 percent, but the tobacco and liquor, and transport and vehicles sectors slipped by 1.1 percent.

BUSINESS BUC