The Sultanate's year-on-year consumer prices for September 2017 touched 1.60%, driven by a rise in transport set, furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance group and education set, according to the data released by the National Centre for Statistics & Information (NCSI).

The major cause of the inflation was a 3.45% rise in furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance group in September this year compared to the same period of 2016. Transport set witnessed a 3.24% rise in prices in September 2017 compared to the same period last year and education set increased by 2.84% in September this year compared to the September 2016. Foods and non-alcoholic beverages set increased by 1.80%, while that of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels witnessed 1.47% rise. Prices of clothing and footwear set increased by 0.32% in September this year compared to September 2016. While health prices rose by 0.42%, that of recreation and culture set went up by 0.33% in September this year compared to the same period of 2016. Communication set fell by 2.95% in September 2017 compared to prices of September last year.

In the food and beverages set, prices of fish and seafood turned costlier by 2.51%, of vegetables by 8.47%, and that of fruits by 2.31%. Prices of breads and cereals witnessed a slight rise of 0.04%, while that of meat increased by 0.84%, and sugar and jams by 0.68% compared to September 2016. The prices of milk, cheese and eggs increased by 0.86%, and that of non-alcoholic beverages by 0.09%. The prices of oils and fats declined by 0.02%, according to the data.

There was also a 1.46% rise in miscellaneous goods and services in September 2017 compared to the same period of 2016. Restaurants and hotels registered a 0.04% decline at the end of September this year.The price of tobacco set saw 23.99% rise at the end of September this year compared to prices during the same period in 2016, according to the NCSI data.