Muscat, The inflation rate in the Sultanate increased by 1.59% in April 2021 compared to the same month of 2020, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and information (NCSI) on Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The inflation rate during April 2021 also rose by 1.47% compared to March 2021.

The increase of prices in April 2021 is attributed to the rise of prices in main groups, such as the transportation group by 6.46%, tobacco by 4.07%, miscellaneous goods and services by 3.18%, recreation and culture by 1.94%, furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 1.26%, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.29%, clothing and footwear by 0.15%, education by 0.08%, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group by 0.07%, and health by 0.06%.

On the other hand, prices of restaurants and hotels declined by 0.29%, and communication by 0.07%.

According to the NCSI, prices saw an increase in non-alcoholic beverages by 7.59%, oils and fats by 2.42%, bread and cereals by 2.06%, other foodstuff by 2.02%, sugar, jam, honey, and sweets by 1.75%, milk, cheese, and eggs by 0.96%, and meat by 0.28%.

In contrast, vegetable prices fell by 3.33%, fruits by 2.07%, fish and seafood by 5.78%.

At the level of governorates, the Governorate of Dhofar witnessed the highest rate of increase in inflation by 2.09%, followed by the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah by 1.75%, the Governorate of A’Dhahirah by 1.70%, the Governorate of North Al Batinah by 1.66%, the Governorate of Muscat by 1.54%, the Governorates of North and South A’Sharqiyah by 1.33%, and the Governorate of Al Buraimi by 1.23%.

In comparison to March 2021, the CPI increased by 1.47%, as the prices of transportation went up by 4.03%, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 1.70%. Prices of the education group remained unchanged.

Source: Oman News Agency