Consumer goods prices in Oman stabilises

Muscat: The prices of consumer goods in the Sultanate of Oman stabilised during the month of February 2024 compared to the same month in 2023, according to the latest consumer price index data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The data indicates a decrease in the prices of major groups such as transportation by 2.6 percent, restaurants and hotels by 0.1 percent, clothing and footwear by 0.2 percent, communications by 0.3 percent, and education by 0.4 percent. In contrast other major groups like food and non-alcoholic beverages saw an increase in the prices by 1.1 percent, miscellaneous goods and services by 3.1 percent.

In the food and non-alcoholic beverages group, the prices of fruits increased by 3.1 percent, milk, cheese, and eggs by 4.2 percent, sugar, jam, honey, and sweets by 2.8 percent, oils and fats by 2 percent, bread and cereals by 0.9 percent, foodstuffs by 1.1 percent, vegetables by 5.2 percent, and meat by 1.7 percent. Fish prices fell by 9.9 percent.

Muscat Governorate recorded the lowest percentage of decrease in inflation at the end of February 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year, with the index falling by 0.3 percent. The index also decreased by 0.2 percent in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, compared to an increase of 0.9 percent in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate.

The inflation rate increased by 0.5 percent in the Al Wusta Governorate, 0.4 percent in both the Dhofar and Al Buraimi Governorates, 0.3 percent in both the Al Dhahirah Governorate and the Musandam Governorate, 0.2 percent in each of the South Al Batinah and North Al Batinah Governorates, and 0.1 percent in the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate.