Oman inflation rises marginally in March

Muscat: Inflation in the Sultanate increased by 0.11 per cent during March 2016 compared to the rate recorded in March 2015, according to the statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The inflation rate also dropped by 0.31 per cent compared to February 2016.
The increasing price index during last March compared to the index recorded during the same month in 2015 is attributed to the increasing prices of all main sets constituting the consumer basket.
The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group grew by 0.44 per cent and the transport group increased by 1.31 per cent. The furniture, home appliances and maintenance group grew by 0.8 per cent. The education group, health group, restaurants and hotels group, and goods and miscellaneous services group grew by 3.03 per cent, 1.46 per cent, 0.18 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.
Prices of foodstuff and non-alcoholic beverages group fell by 1.38 per cent. Clothes and shoes group declined by 0.34 per cent. Goods and miscellaneous services group dropped by 0.06 per cent, communications group declined by 0.12 per cent and culture and entertainment group fell by 0.24 per cent.
At the governorates' level, the inflation rate during last March 2016 recorded a decline in the governorates of the Sultanate. The Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah witnessed a decline by 0.33 per cent in the inflation rate, followed by the Governorate of Al Buraimi with 0.23 per cent, the Governorate of Al Dhahirah with 0.11 per cent, the Governorates of North and South Al Sharqiyah by 0.08 per cent.
The Governorates of North and South Al Batinah price index remained stable. The governorates of Muscat and Dhofar witnessed an increase by 0.29 per cent and 0.77 per cent respectively.
The general consumer price index (CPI) declined by 0.31 per cent in March 2016 compared to February 2016. Foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages, transport and shoes and clothes groups declined by 0.46 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 0.38 per cent respectively.
The restaurants and hotels, health, communication and education groups remained stable.
On the other hand, the housing, electricity, water, gas and other fuels groups increased by 0.01 per cent compared to 0.33 per cent for the furniture, home appliances and maintenance and 0.04 per cent for the goods and miscellaneous services group.