​The inflation rate in Oman, calculated in terms of consumer price index (CPI), rose marginally by 0.78 percent in May 2018, over the same period in 2017, according to the date released by the Centre.

The marginal increase in inflation was driven by a growth in cost of major segments like education that rose 4.90 percent, rise in transport cost by 2.69 percent and furnishing and household equipment with a rise of 0.78 percent in May 2018, over the same period of last year. However, food and non-alcoholic beverages group remained steady without any change in price, shows NCSI data.

Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages group, a marked fall of 9.42 percent was witnessed in vegetables, while prices cloth and footwear edged down by 0.65 percent. However, prices of fruits, fish and seafood, non-alcoholic beverages and milk, cheese and eggs 3.32 percent and 1.80 percent 1.48 percent and 1.05 percent, respectively, in May.

Compared to the previous month, the consumer prices index rose only by 0.35 percent, mainly due to a stable trend in several products. Also, the average inflation rate between January-May period of 2018 edged up by 0.60 percent, over the same period of last year. The cost of education in the first five months of 2018 soared by 4.90 percent, transport by 2.24 percent, and furnishing and household maintenance by 1.56 percent.

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