Inflation hits 2.38 per cent

Transport sector logs a price rise of 9.33 per cent

MUSCAT: The Sultanate’s consumer inflation in February rose by 2.38 per cent year on year, mainly because of a 9.33 per cent price rise in the transport section, and 2.05 per cent upswing in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.

According to a recent bulletin issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), food and non-alcoholic beverages logged a price decline of 0.10 per cent, while clothing and footwear prices fell 0.37 by per cent.

The health and communication sectors too recorded a price fall of 0.13 per cent and 3.02 per cent respectively in February, as against prices for the same month in 2016.

The prices of other CPI product baskets registered an increase.

Tobacco products saw rise in prices by 23.23 per cent, while furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance prices went up by 1.86 per cent. Recreation and culture turned costlier by 0.50 per cent. Education as well as restaurants and hotels sections experienced inflationary pressures of 2.85 per cent and 0.30 per cent respectively.

Prices of miscellaneous goods and services went up by 1.67 per cent during the month.

Among the foods, bread cereals prices fell by 1.58 per and cent, while meat, fish and seafood prices rose by 0.22 per cent and 7.09 per cent respectively.

Milk, cheese, eggs, oils and fats logged a price fall of 2.44 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively.

Fruits and vegetables too reported a price decrease of 2.88 per cent and 0.31 per cent respectively.

Sugar, jam, honey and confectionary prices went up by 0.33 per cent. Prices of non-alcoholic beverages shot up by 0.53 per cent in February compared to that during last year.