Education accounts for the highest component of the inflation, which rose to a modest 2.4% in May compared to the corresponding month in 2021.
According to figures from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the increase in the consumer price index in May 2022 was due to the increase in the prices of major groups such as education by 5.1% and food and non-alcoholic beverages by 5.0%.
Surprisingly, transportation increased only by 3.5%, while the health group rose by 2.8% and the miscellaneous goods and services group by 1.5%.
Inflation decreased to 2.67% in April 2022 from 3.6% in March 2022. The Sultanate of Oman's annual inflation was recorded at 4.0% in February and 4.4% in January this year.
In its recent report, the International Monetary Fund expressed its satisfaction over Oman's efforts in containing inflation. "Inflation turned positive to 1.5% in 2021 and is projected to increase to 3.7% in 2022, given rebounding economic activity and rising global inflationary pressures," it said in the report.
At the governorate level, Al Batinah North and Ash Sharqiyah South governorates witnessed the highest rate of inflation during the month of May 2022 by 2.9%, followed by Ad Dakhliyah Governorate by 2.8%.
Al Buraymi Governorate followed them by 2.6%, Dhofar Governorate by 2.4%, Adh Dhahirah Governorate by 2.0%, followed by the Governorate of Muscat with 1.9%.
Other groups in the Consumer Price Index were the culture and entertainment group by 1.5%, the restaurants and hotels group by 1.3%, the furniture fixtures and household equipment and regular household maintenance group by 0.7%.
The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel groups, however, rose only by 0.7%, and the clothing and shoes group by 0.4%. Tobacco group by 0.1%.
According to the data of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the index and prices of oils and fats increased by 17.2%, fish and seafood by 7.3%, vegetables by 6.9%, meat by 6.7%, fruits by 6.6%, and the prices of bread and cereals by 2.7%.
The prices of sugar, jam, honey and sweets by 1.9%, milk, cheese and eggs by 1.5%, other foodstuffs by 1.2%, and the prices of non-alcoholic beverages by 0.3%.