Oman’s inflation rises 0.6% in May
Published: 04:06 PM,Jun 23,2025 | EDITED : 08:06 PM,Jun 23,2025
The rise in inflation was primarily driven by higher prices in the personal goods and miscellaneous services group.
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman recorded a 0.6 per cent increase in its General Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May 2025, compared to the same month in 2024, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The rise in inflation was primarily driven by higher prices in the personal goods and miscellaneous services group, which surged by 6.4 per cent. The transportation group followed with a 2.4 per cent increase, while prices in the restaurants and hotels group rose by 1.4 per cent.
Other sectors also saw moderate increases: the health group by 0.8 per cent, clothing and footwear by 0.6 per cent, culture and entertainment by 0.3 per cent, and education by 0.1 per cent.
On the other hand, the food and non-alcoholic beverages group registered a 0.8 per cent decline, while prices for furniture, household equipment, and routine maintenance fell by 0.2 per cent. Prices in the housing, utilities, communication, and tobacco categories remained stable year-on-year.
Drilling deeper into the food and beverage group, prices for sugar, jam, honey, and sweets rose by 3.7 per cent, while other unclassified food items increased by 3.6 per cent. Dairy products including milk, cheese, and eggs recorded a 1.9 per cent rise, oils and fats were up by 1.8 per cent, and meat prices inched up by 0.2 per cent.
In contrast, vegetable prices fell sharply by 8.6 per cent. Fish and seafood declined by 2.3 per cent, fruits by 1.6 per cent, and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.1 per cent. Prices for bread and grains remained unchanged.
Among Oman’s governorates, Al Dakhiliyah posted the highest inflation rate at 1.5 per cent, followed by Musandam at 1.1 per cent and South Al Sharqiyah at 1.0 per cent. Other notable increases were seen in Al Dhahirah (0.9%), Muscat (0.8%), Al Wusta (0.6%), Al Buraimi (0.4%), Dhofar (0.3%), and North Al Batinah (0.2%).
Conversely, South Al Batinah and North Al Sharqiyah recorded a year-on-year decline in inflation, at -0.4 per cent and -0.1 per cent respectively. — ONA
The rise in inflation was primarily driven by higher prices in the personal goods and miscellaneous services group, which surged by 6.4 per cent. The transportation group followed with a 2.4 per cent increase, while prices in the restaurants and hotels group rose by 1.4 per cent.
Other sectors also saw moderate increases: the health group by 0.8 per cent, clothing and footwear by 0.6 per cent, culture and entertainment by 0.3 per cent, and education by 0.1 per cent.
On the other hand, the food and non-alcoholic beverages group registered a 0.8 per cent decline, while prices for furniture, household equipment, and routine maintenance fell by 0.2 per cent. Prices in the housing, utilities, communication, and tobacco categories remained stable year-on-year.
Drilling deeper into the food and beverage group, prices for sugar, jam, honey, and sweets rose by 3.7 per cent, while other unclassified food items increased by 3.6 per cent. Dairy products including milk, cheese, and eggs recorded a 1.9 per cent rise, oils and fats were up by 1.8 per cent, and meat prices inched up by 0.2 per cent.
In contrast, vegetable prices fell sharply by 8.6 per cent. Fish and seafood declined by 2.3 per cent, fruits by 1.6 per cent, and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.1 per cent. Prices for bread and grains remained unchanged.
Among Oman’s governorates, Al Dakhiliyah posted the highest inflation rate at 1.5 per cent, followed by Musandam at 1.1 per cent and South Al Sharqiyah at 1.0 per cent. Other notable increases were seen in Al Dhahirah (0.9%), Muscat (0.8%), Al Wusta (0.6%), Al Buraimi (0.4%), Dhofar (0.3%), and North Al Batinah (0.2%).
Conversely, South Al Batinah and North Al Sharqiyah recorded a year-on-year decline in inflation, at -0.4 per cent and -0.1 per cent respectively. — ONA