Muscat: The average inflation rate during the January-August 2026 period stood at 2.9 percent.

Transport recorded the sharpest year-on-year increase among the main expenditure groups, rising 8.5 percent, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 7 percent and miscellaneous personal goods and services at 6.1 percent.

Prices also increased in restaurants and hotels by 3.6 percent, furniture, household equipment and routine maintenance by 3.1 percent, education by 2.2 percent, health by 1.7 percent, culture and entertainment by 0.4 percent, and clothing and footwear by 0.1 percent.

Meanwhile, prices in the communications and tobacco groups remained unchanged from August 2025, while the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category recorded a 0.6 percent decline.

At the governorate level, Al Dhahirah recorded the highest inflation rate at 4.8 percent, followed by Muscat at 3.9 percent, Al Dakhiliyah at 3.8 percent, and Al Wusta at 3.4 percent.

Inflation stood at 3.3 percent each in Musandam and Al Buraimi, followed by South Al Sharqiyah at 3.1 percent, South Al Batinah at 2.7 percent, North Al Batinah at 2.5 percent, North Al Sharqiyah at 2.2 percent, while Dhofar recorded the lowest rate at 2.1 percent.

Food prices showed some of the sharpest increases during the month. Vegetable prices surged 19 percent compared with August 2025, while fruit prices rose 16.3 percent and meat prices increased 9.8 percent.

Non-alcoholic beverages became 3.5 percent more expensive, while other food products not classified elsewhere rose by 3.1 percent.

Prices of milk, cheese and eggs increased by 3 percent, sugar, jam, honey and sweets by 2.3 percent, bread and cereals by 0.8 percent, and oils and fats by 0.1 percent.

Fish was the only major food subgroup to record a decline, with prices edging down 0.1 percent year-on-year.