The Sultanate’s inflation (CPI based) registered a fall of 0.07% in February compared with January figures, while on a year on year basis it increased 0.32%, according to latest data published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The food and beverages (non-alcoholic) set carrying a weight of nearly 24% in the CPI basket led the monthly fall with a price slump of 1.36%, which was slightly offset by rising prices of the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels subset (with a weight of over 26%) at 0.03%.
Under the food and beverages set, bread and cereals went down by 0.11%, while fish and seafood saw prices fall by 1.08%. Prices of meat; and milk, cheese and eggs subsets rose by 0.15% and 0.08% respectively in February, 2016 compared with January 2016 prices. Oils and fats rose 0.11%; while a price fall was recorded in the fruits and vegetables subsets at 2.93% and 8.95% respectively. Sugar, honey and confectionary subset prices increased 0.05%, while non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.14%.
Tobacco went up 0.04%; while clothing and footwear, and furnishing, household appliances and maintenance sets logged a price fall of 0.05% and 0.35% respectively in February compared with January.
Prices stabilized in the health, education and communication sets over the period, even as transport prices hiked by 1.32%. Recreation and culture turned more affordable by 0.07%, while restaurants and hotels became costlier by 0.07%. Prices of other goods and services increased 0.17% in February over previous month.