Inflation rises by 1.22pc in October

MUSCAT: The inflation rate in the Sultanate in October increased by 1.22 per cent compared with the same month of 2016, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) data on consumer price indices. The rate increased by 0.1 per cent compared with September 2017.

The increase in the price index in October has been attributed to the rise in prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 1.5 per cent, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.74 per cent and transport by 1.78 per cent.

The price of education rose 4.90 per cent, restaurants and hotels 0.24 per cent, miscellaneous goods and services 1.63 per cent, culture and entertainment 0.37 per cent, health group 0.41 per cent and tobacco 1.83 per cent.

On the other hand, the price of clothing and footwear decreased 0.10 per cent and communications 0.17 per cent.

North Al Batinah saw the highest rate of inflation (2.27 per cent), followed by North and South Al Sharqiyah (1.06 per cent) Dhofar (1.04 per cent), Al Dakhiliyah (0.99 per cent), Al Dhahirah (0.89 per cent), Muscat (0.86 per cent) and Al Buraimi (0.23 per cent). Compared with September, the consumer price index rose by 0.10 per cent.

The price of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 0.05 per cent, transport 1 per cent, clothing and footwear 0.04 per cent, education 4.90 per cent, restaurants and hotels 0.32 per cent, and miscellaneous goods and services 0.08 per cent.

In contrast, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased 0.87 per cent and furnishings household equipment and routine household maintenance 0.04 per cent.

The price of recreation and culture stabilised.