The Isle of Man’s rate of inflation has edged down slightly, according to figures released today by the government.

They say that on average, things were 2.1 per cent more expensive in April 2017 than they were 12 months earlier.

That’s according to the consumer prices index (CPI), which put inflation for March at 2.2 per cent.

But behind the figures there are different stories.

For instance, oils and other fules are 36.4 per cent more expensive than they were a year ago. They’re still a lot cheaper than they were in 2011 but they have risen in part because of the fall in the value of the pound in international markets.

Pork is 13.2 per cent more expensive, contact lens solution is up 15,4 per cent.

But soft drinks are 3.9 per cent cheaper, sea travel has dropped 11.1 per cent and air travel by 21.8 per cent, in spite of changes in fuel prices.

Measured by the retail prices index (RPI), inflation stands at 7.3 per cent.

The RPI uses different measures. For example, it includes costs of housing such as mortgage interest costs.