The Sultanate's year-on-year consumer prices for June 2017 touched 0.87%, driven by a rise in furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance group, education and housing, water electricity, gas and other fuels set, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics & Information (NCSI).

The major cause of the prices rise was a 2.90% rise in furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance group in June this year compared to the same period of 2016. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels witnessed 1.44% rise, while that of foods and non-alcoholic beverages rose 0.89%. Prices of clothing and footwear set rose slightly by 0.25% rise compared to June 2016, while education witnessed a 2.85% jump compared to the same period last year. While health prices rose by 0.40%, that of recreation and culture set went up by 0.16% in June this year compared to the same period of 2016. Communication set fell by 2.93% compared to prices last year, while transport prices rose 0.66% in June vis-à-vis prices of 2016.

In the food and beverages set, prices of vegetable and fruits turned costlier by 6.90% and  3.39% respectively, while that of fish and seafood fell 4.12% compared to June 2016. The prices of milk, cheese and eggs also saw a fall of 1.16%, while that of bread and cereals rose by 0.20% and meat by 0.65% compared to last year's prices. Prices of oils and fats rose by 0.21% and that of non-alcoholic beverages by 0.09%, while sugar, jam, honey and confectionaries rose 0.44%. There was also a rise in miscellaneous goods and services at 1.40% compared to the same period of 2016. Restaurants and hotels registered a 0.33% rise in June. The price of tobacco set saw 23.84% rise in June this year compared to prices during the same period in 2016.