Inflation rises 2.46 per cent in Sept

MUSCAT, Oct 24

The inflation rate in the Sultanate of Oman increased by 2.46 per cent in September 2021 compared to September 2020. However, the inflation rate decreased by 0.06 per cent compared to August 2021, according to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The rise in prices in September 2021 compared to the same month of 2020 is attributed to the increase of prices in main groups, such as the transportation group (8.19 per cent), miscellaneous good and services (3.33 per cent), tobacco (2.98 per cent), recreation and culture (2.05 per cent), food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.87 per cent), furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance (1.32 per cent), restaurant and hotels (0.83 per cent), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group (0.44 per cent), and clothing, footwear, health and education (0.08 per cent each). On the other hand, prices of the communication group went down by 0.08 per cent.

According to the NCSI, prices went up in non-alcoholic beverages by 6.61 per cent, fish and seafood by 4.43 per cent, oils and fats by 2.08 per cent, bread and cereals by 1.76 per cent, sugar, jam, honey, and sweets by 1.45 per cent, other foodstuff by 1.43 per cent, meat by 1.33 per cent, vegetables by 1.16 per cent, milk, cheese and eggs by 0.29 per cent. In contrast, fruits prices fell by 0.03 per cent in September 2021 compared to September 2020.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.06 per cent compared to August 2021.

A decline was recorded in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.45 per cent, clothing and footwear by 0.38 per cent, restaurants and hotels by 0.14 per cent, miscellaneous goods and services by 0.06 per cent, transportation by 0.05 per cent, recreation and culture by 0.02 per cent.

Meanwhile, the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group increased by 0.33 per cent, furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 0.04 per cent.

Moreover, the prices of tobacco, health, communication and education groups remained unchanged.

At the level of governorates, the CPI recorded a rise in September 2021 compared to the same month in 2020.

The Governorate of Dhofar witnessed the highest rate of increase in inflation by 3.54 per cent, followed by the Governorates of South and North Al Sharqiyah by 2.92 per cent, the Governorate of North Al Batinah by 2.91 per cent, the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah by 2.80 per cent, the Governorate of Al Dhahirah by 2.65 per cent, the Governorate of Al Buraimi by 2.45 per cent, the Governorate of Muscat by 1.78 per cent. -ONA