The rate of inflation in the Isle of Man has dropped, according to the latest statistics.

Government number crunchers say that year-on-year inflation measured by the consumer prices index in August was 1.4%. That compares with 2.3% in July.

The figure is out of kilter with the UK’s. There, the rate soared to 3.2% in August from 2% the year before.

The rise in the UK is the biggest since the consumer prices index inflation statistics began to be measured in 1997. There it was partly fuelled by the comparison with the year before, when Westminster’s ’Eat Out to Help Out’ inititative to help restaurants was in full swing.

In the Isle of Man the big jumps are in fuel.

Petrol and oil rose 13.7% while oil and other fuels, a different category, shot up 45.4%.

Food and alcoholic beverages were up 0.5%. Bread got 3.2% cheaper. Tea was down 11.4% and coffee ’and other hot drinks’ dropped 9.4%.

While potatoes got 2.4% more expensive, vegetables were 1.7% cheaper.

The fact that bacon got 0.9% cheaper but pork rose by 14.6% is perhaps confusing.

Sea travel was 2.5% cheaper, while air travel rose 8.6%.

The price of beer dropped 7.1% in shops but rose 4% in licensed premises.

Other notable statistics include clothing getting 9.1% cheaper than in August 2020. Meanwhile, driving lessons leapt 16.7%, rent rose 3% and DIY materials were 9.5% more expensive.