Inflation eases in July

MUSCAT: The Sultanate’s consumer price index-based inflation declined 0.66 per cent in July 2017 compared with the same period month in 2016, primarily driven by a 4.02-per cent rise in furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance group, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

In the food and non-alcoholic set, fish and seafood saw 3.38 per cent inflation, the prices of fruits went up by 1.43 per cent and that of vegetables by 1.10 per cent. The prices of bread and cereals increased by 0.43 per cent, meat 0.35 per cent, sugar, jam, honey and confectionaries by 0.56 per cent and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.12 per cent. The prices of milk and cheese decreased 0.98 per cent, and oil and fats by 0.25 per cent, the NCSI data showed.

Prices of other food products decreased 0.40 per cent. There was a 2.84-per cent rise in education group, 1.43 per cent in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and 1.29 per cent rise in miscellaneous goods and services in July 2017 compared to the same month last year, the NCSI data showed.

Communication and transport registered a decline in prices this July compared to the same period last year. While there was a 2.93-per cent fall in prices of communication, in transport there was a 0.10-per cent fall, the statistics showed. The health set saw a 0.39-per cent inflation, and recreation and culture set saw a 0.33-per cent rise in prices. The tobacco set logged a price rise of 23.99 per cent while there was a 0.13-per cent decrease in clothing and footwear prices.

The restaurants and hotels set too registered a price rise of 0.03 per cent in July this year compared to the same period in 2016, according to the NCSI data.