Rising transportation costs drive inflation to 1.33 pc

MUSCAT: The Sultanate registered a year-on-year inflation rate (based on consumer price index) of 1.33 per cent in September 2016, mainly driven by a 6.57 per cent rise in prices in the transport and a 0.77 per cent rise in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, according to the latest report published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance went up by 0.92 per cent. Health prices increased by 0.91 per cent, education by 3.03 per cent, restaurants and hotels by 0.37 per cent, and goods and different services by 0.4 per cent.

In contrast, the foodstuff and nonalcoholic beverages prices came down by 0.77 per cent. Clothing and footwear fell by 0.46 per cent, communications by 0.26 per cent, culture and entertainment by 0.48 per cent.

The Governorate of Dhofar witnessed the highest inflation rate by 2.66 per cent, followed by the Governorates of North and South Al Sharqyiah by 1.46 per cent, the Governorate of North Al Batinah by 1.43 per cent, the Governorate of Al Dhahirah by 1.33 per cent, the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah by 1.3 per cent, the Governorate of Al Buraimi by 1.26 per cent and the Governorate of Muscat by 1.01 per cent.

In comparison with the previous month, the general index of consumer prices went down by 0.33 per cent where foodstuff and non-alcoholic beverages witnessed a decrease by 0.21 per cent, clothing and footwear by 0.28 per cent and restaurants and hotels by 0.38 per cent.

Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance went down by 0.01 per cent, transport by 1.2 per cent and health prices 0.03 per cent while housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels and education settled at the same prices.