Inflation rose last month.

The annual rate of inflation as measured by the consumer prices index increased from 3.8% in November to 4.1% in December.

This was driven by rising prices in all categories of goods and services.

The cost of travelling off-island has continued to increase as have meals out and drinks in bars and pubs.

Air travel has increased by 13.5% over 12 months and coffee and hot drinks by 13.1%. It’s enough to give you a headache but unfortunately the cost of painkillers is also up, by 15%.

The cost of groceries has also risen compared with 12 months ago, with the exception of fruit and beef which are slightly cheaper.

There is an underlying impact of a weak pound against the Euro and the increasing price of oil.

Inflation as measured by the retail prices index, however, is down marginally by 0.1% to 6.9%.