Inflation edges up by 0.10 per cent in March

MUSCAT: The inflation rate in the Sultanate, calculated in terms of consumer price index (CPI), rose marginally by 0.10 per cent in March 2018, over the same period in 2017, according to the date released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The reason for a marginal increase in inflation was due to a rise in cost of major segments like education that rose by 4.90 per cent, rise of transport cost by 1.29 per cent and furnishing and household equipment with a rise of 1.90 per cent in March 2018, over the same period of last year. However, foods and non-alcoholic beverages group witnessed a 1.25-per cent fall in March this year, compared to the same period of last year, shows NCSI data. Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages group, a marked fall of 11.14 per cent was witnessed in fish and seafood, while prices of vegetables declined by 13.58 per cent. However, prices of fruits and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 4.19 per cent and 1.74 per cent, respectively. Compared to the previous month, the consumer prices index declined by 0.28 per cent due to a 1.18 per cent fall in food and non-alcoholic beverages, a 0.59-per cent decline in transport cost. On the other hand, the cost of housing, water, electricity and gas rose by 0.41 per cent, clothing, and footwear by 0.20 per cent. In addition, inflation rate between January-March periods of 2018 edged up by 0.55 per cent, over the same period of last year. The cost of education in the first quarter of 2018 soared by 4.90 per cent, transport by 2.01 per cent, furnishing and household equipment by 1.92 per cent and non-alcoholic beverages by 1.68 per cent. — ONA