October inflation up moderately

The increase in inflation was driven by a rise in cost of major segments such as housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, according to NCSI data

MUSCAT: The inflation rate in the Sultanate has witnessed a moderate rise.

The consumer price index (CPI), increased by 1.01 per cent in October 2018 compared to the same month in 2017, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and information (NCSI).

It also stated that the inflation rate increased by 0.32 per cent compared to September 2018.

The increase in inflation was driven by a rise in cost of major segments such as housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels by 0.57 per cent; transport by 5.56 per cent; restaurants and hotels by 0.35 per cent; miscellaneous goods and services by 1.44 per cent; and education by 2.02 per cent.

However, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages dropped by 1.20 per cent; clothing and footwear by 0.43 per cent; communications by 0.28 per cent; household furniture, equipment’s, and household maintenance by 0.48 per cent; health by 3.53 per cent; culture and entertainment by 0.05 per cent; and tobacco by 0.11 per cent in October 2018 compared to the same month of the previous year.

Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages group, a marked fall of 4.96 per cent was witnessed in vegetables, while price of fruits declined by 5.07 per cent. The price of fish and seafood products also fell by 4.43 per cent. The average inflation rate between January and October 2018 edged up by 0.87 per cent compared to the same period last year.