Mubasher: Oman’s producer inflation went up 15.3% in the first three months of 2017, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) on Sunday.
This increase followed the rise in prices of oil and gas products by 18.9% year-on-year in Q1-17, while non-oil products added 2.7%, crude oil and natural gas grew 16.8%, and refined oil products surged 32.4%.
Metal products, machinery, and equipment levelled up 5.6%, while other transportable products grew 5.5% on the back of an 18.1% surge in the prices of raw materials and steel or aluminum products, the NCSI said in a statement published on its official website.
The food products, beverages, and textiles segment increased 3.4%. Prices of dairy products rose 11.5%, while fish, fruits, vegetables, and oils added 6.3% and beverages increased 0.1%.
On the other hand, producers' prices for mining, electricity, and water products fell 4%, compared to Q1-16, owing to a 4.8% decline in producer prices for electrical and water products.
Bakery product prices shed 0.3%, while clothing, textiles, and footwear went down 0.4%. The prices of other food products remained stable.
The prices of products of gases, acids, and polypropylene products increased 19.6%, whereas those for paints and pharmaceutical products, rubber and plastic products, wood and paper products, glass, cement, and marble products fell 6.5%, 2.9%, 1.4%, and 0.1%, respectively.
