Oman’s consumer price index (CPI) based inflation fell by 0.43 per cent in October 2015 compared to prices in the same month last year. However year-on-year average inflation during the January-October period rose by 0.14 per cent according to the data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Also, compared to September, inflation posted a decline of 0.21 per cent in October.
The food and non-alcoholic beverages group, which carries a weightage of nearly 24 per cent in the index witnessed a price fall of 1.28 per cent in October this year compared to last year. Bread and cereals prices went down 1.16 per cent, fish and seafood 15.45 per cent, meat 0.48 per cent, milk, cheese and eggs 0.60 per cent, oils and fats 0.14 per cent, and non-alcoholic beverages 0.53 per cent.
Subsets that witnessed price rise include fruits 0.97 per cent, vegetables 3.57 per cent, sugar-confectionary 0.83 per cent, and other food products 0.50 per cent.
Tobacco products became costlier by 3.34 per cent while clothing and footwear went down by 0.53 per cent. Housing, water, electricity and fuels set logged price rise of 0.60 per cent while furnishing, household appliances and maintenance costs rose by 0.11 per cent in October compared to same month last year. Health set also witnessed higher inflation at 2.94 per cent, as also education at 3.03 per cent. Restaurants and hotels set prices too increased by 0.09 per cent.
At the same time, transport and communications sets registered a price fall of 0.86 per cent and 3.10 per cent respectively. Recreation and culture, as well as miscellaneous goods and services sets too recorded a price fall of 0.10 per cent and 0.24 per cent in October compared to last year.