Consumer inflation in Oman records close to 1 per cent decline in May

The inflation rate in the Sultanate measured by movement in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI), dropped by 0.96 per cent during May 2020, compared to the same month in 2019, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

According to the report, the inflation rate during May rose by 0.18 per cent, compared to April 2020.

Prices of furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance fell by 0.35 per cent, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels fell by 0.52 per cent, communication dropped by 0.11 per cent and miscellaneous goods and services declined by 1.34 per cent during May 2020, compared to the same month in 2019.

However, Food and non-alcoholic beverages group witnessed a price rise by 3.33 per cent, health group rose by 1 per cent, education rose by 2.21 per cent, and restaurants and hotels inclined by 1.08 per cent.

Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages category, a marked rise was witnessed in the price of fruit, vegetables, bread and cereals and meat by 10.33 per cent; 13.24 per cent; 0.48 per cent; and 2.01 per cent respectively.

However, the price of fish and seafood; milk, cheese and eggs; and oils and fats fell by 11.12 per cent; 0.45 per cent, and 0.05 per cent, respectively.

Non-alcoholic beverages registered a price rise by13.85 per cent while clothing and footwear fell by 1.46 per cent in May 2020, against the same period of 2019.