Times of Oman
 
Muscat, Jun 29: Inflation in the Sultanate is down to 3.9 per cent — the least in nearly three years — for May 2009, consumer price index figures released by the National Economy Ministry showed yesterday.

The index for food, beverages and tobacco group — all of which constitute 30 per cent of the gross expenditure — recorded a decline by 0.9 per cent, the report said.

This decline, the report says, is due to a decrease in prices of commodities such as cereals by 1.6 per cent, fish by 3.8 per cent, oil and fats by 1.5 per cent and fruits by 3.1 per cent.

While prices of personal commodities and services grew by 2.1 per cent, prices of house rent, electricity, water and fuel grew by 1.4 per cent and prices of textiles and readymade garments grew by 2 per cent.

Stable

Prices of healthcare and education remained stable compared to a decline by 0.2 per cent of furniture and houseware, transport and communications, as well as recreational services.

The inflation index measures change in average price of a large number of commodities and services (about 8,101 commodities and services collected from 1,571 shops and 1,260 rented houses) in different parts of the Sultanate.