The annual inflation rate in the Sultanate of Oman reached 0.41 per cent by the end of July 2023, driven by the increase in most main groups that constitute the Consumer Price Index (CPI), according to the data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The group of furniture, household equipment and routine household maintenance came to the forefront with a 2.66 per cent rise.

A rise was also recorded in the following groups: miscellaneous goods and services by 2.51 per cent, tobacco by 2.36 per cent, and culture and recreation by 1.59 per cent.

The prices of the main group of food and non-alcoholic beverages went up by 1.36 per cent, as a result of a rise in the prices of most ingredients, namely milk, cheese and eggs by 10.02 per cent, oils and fats by 5.03 per cent, other foods by 4.2 per cent, sugar, jam, honey and sweets by 3.61 per cent, bread and cereals 2.24 per cent, fish and seafood by 1.57 per cent and non-alcoholic drinks by 0.72 per cent.

Meanwhile, a decline was recorded in the prices of the main groups of vegetables by 1.72 per cent, fruits by 2.31 per cent and meats by 0.61 per cent.

Moreover, the following main groups registered a price rise: health by 0.63 per cent, clothes and footwear by 0.32 per cent, education by 0.05 per cent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other types of fuel by 0.03 per cent.

The prices of the main groups of transport and communications declined by 1.72 per cent and 0.22 per cent, respectively.

In terms of governorates, Muscat recorded the highest inflation rate of 0.7 per cent, while the lowest inflation rate was registered by Al Buraimi (0.5 per cent).