THE huge jump in bus and taxi fares at the end of August led to 2.8 per cent inflation in September, according to the Statistical Insitute of Jamaica (Statin).

The movement in the consumer price index (CPI) last month was the highest monthly movement experienced since July 2008.

The index for the transport division increased by 17.1 per cent in the review period, while the education index climbed 3.6 per cent in September, due to the rise in the cost of tuition fees for the new school year.

Higher electricity cost also led to a 3.3 per cent increase in the index for the ‘housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’.

All other divisions that make up the All Jamaica Index recorded increases from 0.2 per cent, for restaurants and accommo-dation services and health, to 0.7 per cent for clothing and footwear.

The index for ‘food and non-alcoholic beverages’ rose by 0.6 per cent, while there was no movement recorded for ‘communication’.

Calendar year-to-date inflation rose by 7.7 per cent up from 4.8 per cent in August, while the CPI movement over the 12 months to September was 10.4 per cent. The fiscal year-to-date inflation was 4.8 per cent for September 2013.