Muscat: The inflation rate in the Sultanate, measured by movement in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased by 0.43 per cent in January 2020 compared to the same month of 2019, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and information (NCSI) on consumer prices’ index.

According to the report, the inflation rate in the month of January rose by 0.16 per cent compared to December 2019. The food and non-alcoholic beverages group witnessed a price rise by 1.93 per cent; furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance by 0.52 per cent; health by 0.99 per cent; transport by 0.60 per cent, education by 2.18 per cent and restaurants and hotels by 1.03 per cent. However, the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels fell by 0.75 per cent; recreation and culture by 0.06 per cent; communication by 0.26 per cent; and miscellaneous goods and services by 1.62 per cent in January 2020 compared to the same month of 2019. Among foods and non-alcoholic beverages group, a marked rise was witnessed in the price of fruit and vegetables by 0.54 per cent and 7.47 per cent, respectively.

However, the price of bread and cereals, fish and seafood, milk, cheese and eggs; and oils and fats fell by 0.41 per cent; 0.03 per cent, and 0.12 per cent and 1.34 per cent, respectively. However, non-alcoholic beverages registered a price rise of 13.56 per cent, while those of clothing and footwear fell by 2.29 per cent in January 2020 against the same period of 2019.