The island’s annual inflation rate fell from 4% to 2.2% last month but the cost of fuel oil, household goods and pet care all increased substantially over the 12 months ending in May.

Latest figures released by the government show housing, water, gas and other fuel were the biggest contributors to the current rise, but food, cosmetics and toiletries all fell in price.

The figures, are measured according the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures changes in the cost of a set selection of good and services used by an average household.

According to the statistics, the cost of oil and other fuels rose by 18.6% in the year up to the end of May.

Pet owners were hit by a 20% rise in kennelling fees, household equipment went up by 20.2 per cent, postage by 10.6%, pet care by 11.6% and butter by 11 per cent.

But this was offset to some extent by falls in the cost of fruit, down by 11.6%, air travel, down by 8.3%, cooking oils and fats, 8.7%, pork, 6.8%, electrical goods, 4.2 per cent and milk products, 4.8%.

In previous months the cost of transport has been one of the biggest influences on inflation, but that was not the case in May.

But in the past 12 months the category of housing, water, electricity and gas saw a 6 per cent rise overall, furniture, household equipment and maintenance went up by 7.1%, communication by 7.5% and alcohol and tobacco by 3.4%.