Oman’s inflation drops marginally

Muscat: Oman’s inflation, based on consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.07 per cent in February from January this year, while on a year-on-year basis, it increased 0.32 per cent, according to latest data published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information.
The food and beverages (non-alcoholic) set carrying a weight of nearly 24 per centin the CPI basket led the monthly fall with a price slump of 1.36 per cent, which was slightly offset by rising prices of the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels subset (with a weight of over 26 per cent) at 0.03 per cent.
Under the food and beverages set, bread and cereals went down by 0.11 per cent, while fish and seafood saw prices fall by 1.08 per cent. Prices of meat, and milk, cheese and eggs subsets rose by 0.15 per centand 0.08 per centrespectively in February 2016 compared to January 2016 prices.
Oils and fats rose 0.11 per cent, while a price fall was recorded in the fruits and vegetables subsets at 2.93 per centand 8.95 per centrespectively. Sugar, honey and confectionary subset prices increased 0.05 per cent, while non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.14 per cent.
Tobacco went up 0.04 per cent, while clothing and footwear, and furnishing, household appliances and maintenance sets logged a price fall of 0.05 per centand 0.35 per centrespectively in February compared with January.
Prices stabilised in the health, education and communication sets over the period, even as transport prices hiked by 1.32 per cent. Recreation and culture turned more affordable by 0.07 per cent, while restaurants and hotels became costlier by 0.07 per cent. Prices of other goods and services increased 0.17 per centin February over previous month.