Vegetable prices jump 25% as Oman inflation hits 3.2%

MUSCAT: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the Sultanate of Oman recorded an increase of 3.2 percent in April 2026 compared to the same month of 2025, using 2018 as the base year.

Data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicated that vegetables prices went up by 25 percent, followed by fruits at 11.6 percent, and fish and seafood at 6.1 percent during April 2026 compared to the same month in 2025.

Prices of meat also rose by 3.7 percent, and non-alcoholic beverages by 3.4 percent, while the prices of sugar, jam, honey, and confectionery increased by 3 percent, milk, cheese, and eggs by 2.5 percent, bread and cereals by 1.6 percent, and food products not classified elsewhere by 1.6 percent. Meanwhile, oils and fats recorded a slight increase of 0.9 percent.

The average inflation rate during the period from January to April 2026 rose by 2.6 percent.

The miscellaneous personal goods and services group increased at 9.2 percent, followed by the food and non-alcoholic beverages group with a rise of 6.2 percent, and the transport group at 6 percent.

The restaurants and hotels group ranked fourth with an increase of 4.5 percent, followed by the furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance group at 3 percent, and the education group at 2.2 percent.

Prices of the health group increased by 1.8 percent, and the recreation and culture group by 0.2 percent, while prices remained stable for the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels group, the clothing and footwear group, the telecommunications group, and the tobacco group.

The data revealed a variance in inflation rates among the governorates by the end of April 2026 compared to the same period last year. A’Dhahirah Governorate topped the list with the highest increase at 4.4 percent, followed by the governorates of A’Dakhiliyah and Muscat at 3.7 percent, and then Al Buraimi Governorate at 3.5 percent.

Al Wusta Governorate recorded an increase of 3 percent, and Musandam Governorate by 2.9 percent, while the rate of increase in South Al Batinah Governorate reached 2.6 percent, and both North A’Sharqiyah and South A’Sharqiyah governorates stood at 2.5 percent. Meanwhile, North Al Batinah and Dhofar governorates both registered an increase of 1.9 percent.