Consumer price index up in Oman

The inflation rate in the Sultanate, calculated in terms of consumer price index (CPI), increased by 0.22 per cent in May 2019, compared to the same month of 2018, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and information (NCSI) on consumer prices’ index.

It also stated that the inflation rate fell by 0.17 per cent compared to April 2019.

The increase in inflation was driven by a rise in cost of major segments, such as food and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.31 per cent restaurants and hotels by 0.01 per cent; education by 1.99 per cent; recreation and culture by 0.90 per cent; and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance by 4.88 per cent. However, the prices of health; communication, and miscellaneous goods and services fell by 0.49 per cent; 0.48 per cent; and 2.29 per cent respectively, clothing and footwear by 0.71 per cent; in May 2019 compared to the same month of the previous year.

Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages group, a marked rise of 4.98 per cent was witnessed in fish and seafood and 0.37 per cent in fruit. The price of meat fell by 0.86 per cent, and the price of vegetables by 0.62 per cent respectively. Milk, cheese and eggs witnessed a rise in price by 1.13 per cent.

The prices of non-alcoholic beverages also rose by 0.31 per cent in May 2019 against the same period of 2018.