The inflation rate in the Sultanate, calculated in terms of consumer price index (CPI), rose by 1.13 percent in August 2018, over the same month in 2017, according to the latest data released by the (NCSI).
The marginal increase in inflation was driven by a rise in cost of major segments such as transport, which rose by 6 percent, and education, which increased by 4.90 percent in August 2018, over the same period of last year.
However, foods and non-alcoholic beverages sub-group witnessed a 1.17 percent fall in August this year, compared to the same period of last year, shows NCSI data. Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages group, a marked fall of 6.08 percent was witnessed in fruits, while price of vegetables declined by 4.50 percent.
Similarly, the inflation rate in health, furnishing, and household equipment segments declined by 3.06 percent and 0.73 percent, respectively, in August 2018.
However, prices of non-alcoholic beverages and cost of housing, water, electricity and gas rose by 1.87 percent and 0.60 percent, respectively, in August this year.
In addition, the average inflation rate between January and August 2018 edged up by 0.87 percent, over the same period last year. The average cost of education in the first eight months of 2018 soared by 4.90 percent, transport by 3.79 percent, furnishing and household equipment by 0.88 percent and non-alcoholic beverages by 1.70 percent.
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