Muscat: In a recent communication dialogue, His Excellency Al-Hakmani highlighted the Authority’s ongoing efforts to curb unjustified price increases and ensure a balanced market environment.

“The inflation rates in Oman are safe,” His Excellency said, emphasizing that the CPA is actively working to prevent some traders from using inflation as a pretext to raise prices. He added that while Oman has a free market with no fixed prices, the Authority remains vigilant, especially during festive seasons, to ensure that consumer events are not exploited for price hikes.

His Excellency also noted that granting regulatory powers to CPA employees has played a key role in stabilizing the market and improving response times to consumer concerns. “The period for completing complaint procedures has been reduced from 60 to 30 days,” he said, highlighting efficiency gains in recent years.

Addressing the livestock market, His Excellency explained that prices fluctuate based on livestock specifications and external import factors, but the Authority strives to maintain stability through balanced supply and demand strategies.

The Chairman also stressed the importance of consumer empowerment, revealing that key indicators have shown significant improvement over the past two years. He added that stores engaging in misleading practices during sales periods are being closely monitored, and the Authority is exploring legal avenues to warn consumers about violators.