Muscat, 23 Nov (ONA) — The inflation rate in the Sultanate of Oman rose by 3.35% in October 2021 compared to October 2020. The inflation rate also went up by 0.75% compared to September 2021, according to the latest data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The rise of prices in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2020 is attributed to the surge of prices in main groups, such as the transportation group by 9.58%, education by 5.10%, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 3.42%, miscellaneous goods and services by 3.24%, tobacco by 2.98%, recreation and culture by 2.64%, furniture, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 1.37%, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group by 1.01%, restaurants and hotels by 0.70%, clothing and footwear by 0.37% and health by 0.06%.

On the other hand, prices of the communication group went down by 0.07%.

According to the NCSI, prices soared during October 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 in the fish and seafood group by 14.82%, vegetables by 7.62%, fruits by 2.87%, oils and fats by 2.39%, bread and cereals by 2.04%, non-alcoholic beverages by 1.70%, sugar, jam, honey and sweets by 1.68%, meat by 1.50%, other foodstuff by 1.45%, milk, cheese and eggs by 0.42%.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.75% compared to September 2021. A surge was recorded in the prices of education by 5.10%, food and non-alcoholic beverages by 1.43%, transportation by 0.83%, recreation and culture by 0.58%, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group by 0.56%, miscellaneous goods and services by 0.20%, furniture, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 0.07% and clothing and footwear by 0.06%.

Meanwhile, the prices of restaurants and hotels fell by 0.21%. Meanwhile, the prices of tobacco, health and communication remained unchanged.

At the level of governorates, the CPI recorded a rise in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2020. The Governorate of North Al Batinah recorded an increase in inflation by 4.03%, the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah by 3.83%, the Governorate of Dhofar by 3.59%, the Governorates of North and South A’Sharqiyah by 3.58%, the Governorate of A’Dhahirah by 3.33%, the Governorate of Al Buraimi by 3.14% and the Governorate of Muscat by 2.77%.

— Ends/AG/KH