Muscat: The inflation rate in the Sultanate of Oman experienced a rise of 0.7 percent in December 2024 compared to the same month in 2023, based on data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), with 2018 serving as the base year.
The report highlighted a notable increase in the prices of various categories, including personal goods and services, which rose by 4.5 percent, followed by health at 3.2 percent, food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.7 percent, and restaurants and hotels at 0.8 percent. Additionally, the culture and entertainment sector saw a 0.6 percent increase, clothing and footwear by 0.5 percent, furniture and household equipment by 0.4 percent, and education by 0.1 percent. Conversely, transportation prices fell by 0.8 percent, while the prices for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, as well as communications and tobacco, remained unchanged.
Specific food categories also saw price increases, with vegetables rising by 7.6 percent, milk, cheese, and eggs by 3.8 percent, and other food products not classified elsewhere by 3.7 percent. Sugar, jam, honey, and sweets increased by 2.8 percent, meat by 2.6 percent, fruits by 2.2 percent, and oils and fats by 1.6 percent. Meanwhile, the prices for bread and grains remained stable, while non-alcoholic beverages and fish and seafood saw declines of 0.5 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.
Musandam Governorate experienced the highest inflation rate at 1.6 percent by the end of December 2024, compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. South Al Sharqiyah Governorate saw an inflation increase of 1.5 percent, while Al Wusta Governorate recorded a rise of 1.4 percent. In Al Dhahirah Governorate, the inflation rate increased by 0.9 percent, and Al Buraimi, Al Dakhiliyah, and Dhofar Governorates each experienced a rise of 0.8 percent. North Al Sharqiyah Governorate's inflation rate went up by 0.7 percent, Muscat Governorate by 0.6 percent, and North Al Batinah Governorate by 0.5 percent. Conversely, South Al Batinah Governorate saw a slight decrease of 0.1 percent.
