The inflation rate in the Sultanate increased by 1.7% in December 2017, compared with the same period in the year 2016, according to the latest data issued by the (NCSI). The latest data about the inflation rate is also an increase of 0.07% compared with November 2017.

The NCSI has also said that the rise in the price index in December 2017, in comparison with the same period in 2016, was due to the rise in prices of major groups including housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 1.52%, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 1.84%, transport by 2.77% and furnishings, household equipment and routing house maintenance by 3.61%.

The group of education increased by 4.9%, restaurants and hotels by 0.06%, miscellaneous goods and services by 1.95%, culture and entertainment by 0.24%, health services by 0.41% and tobacco by 1.81%. On the other, hand the price of the clothing and footwear decreased by 0.14% and communications by 0.18% during December 2017, compared to the same period previous year. At the level governorates, North Al Batinah had an increase in the inflation by 2.71%, followed by Ad Dakhilyah governorate by 1.76%, North and South of Ash Sharqiyah by 1.5%, Muscat governorate by 1.4%, Ad Dhahirah by 1.32%, Dhofar by 1.24% and Al Burami governorate by 0.67%.

Compared to the previous month, the general consumer price index rose by 0.07%, with transport cost went up by 0.72%, clothing and footwear by 0.02% and miscellaneous goods and services by 0.02%.Whereas, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased by 0.28%, restaurants and hotels by 0.16%, furnishings, household equipment and routing house maintenance by 0.08%, culture and entertainment by 0.13%. The groups of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, health, communication, and education remained stable.

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