MUSCAT– The preliminary data issued by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicated that the domestic liquidity increased by about OMR 688 million, to reach OMR 21.069 billion, registering an increase of 3.4 percent, compared to the same period in 2022. The total cash issued by CBO decreased by 9.1 percent, recording OMR 1.750 billion at the end of April 2023, compared to OMR 1.924 billion end of April 2022.

Deposits of the private sector in commercial banks and Islamic windows, at the end of April 2023, reached to about OMR 17.877 billion, showing an increase of 3.7 percent over the same period in 2022, which witnessed deposits of the private sector amounting to OMR 17.246 billion. Total loans and financing in commercial banks and Islamic windows increased by 6.3 percent at the end of April 2023, to reach OMR 30.025 billion, compared to OMR 28.245 billion in 2022.

The average interest rate on total loans decreased by 1.9 percent, and was recorded at a rate of 5.367 percent the end of April 2023. The actual exchange rate index for the Omani Rial increased by 2.3 per cent at the end of April 2023, to record 113.9 points, compared to 111.3 points at the end of April 2022.