MUSCAT – Data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed that the Miscellaneous Goods and Personal Services topped the list of increases, recording a significant increase of 13.2 percent. It was followed by the Restaurants and Hotels category at 5.9 percent; the Furniture, Household Equipment and Maintenance category at 2.6 percent; the Education category at 2.2 percent; the Health category at 1.7 percent; the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages category at 0.9 percent; and the Clothing and Footwear category at 0.1 percent.

Conversely, the Transport category recorded a price decrease of 0.3 percent.

Prices for the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels category; the Recreation and Culture category; the Tobacco category, and the Communications category remained stable with no change.

As for the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages category for January 2026 compared to the same month of 2025, prices for Fruits rose by 5.2 percent, Sugar, Jam, Honey, and Confectionery by 3.3 percent, Milk, Cheese, and Eggs by 2.0 percent, Non-Alcoholic Beverages by 0.5 percent, Meat by 2.0 percent, Bread and Cereals by 0.4 percent, Oils and Fats by 0.7 percent, and Food Products Not Elsewhere Classified by 1.7 percent. Meanwhile, fish prices decreased by 5.4 percent and vegetables by 1.4 percent

Al Dhahirah Governorate recorded the highest inflation rate increase by the end of January 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, with the index rising by 2.3 percent. The inflation rate also increased in Muscat Governorate by 1.9 percent, Al Buraimi Governorate by 1.8 percent, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate by 1.5 percent, and South Al Batinah Governorate by 1.3 percent.

South Al Sharqiyah and Musandam Governorates both recorded an equal increase of 1.0 percent, while Dhofar and North Al Batinah Governorates saw an increase of 0.4 percent. North Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta Governorates recorded the lowest combined inflation rate at 0.3 percent.