Doha – Mubasher: Qatar’s consumer price index (CPI), an indicator of inflation, dropped 0.6% month-on-month to 107.7 points in May, according to data released by the Qatari Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics.
On an annual basis, inflation rose 0.1%, the figures released by the ministry showed.
The clothing and footwear segment decreased 1.7%, followed by the recreation and culture group with 1.5%, food and beverages with 1.2%, and housing, water, electricity, and other fuels with 0.8%.
Meanwhile, five groups remained stable, namely: tobacco, furniture and household equipment, health, education, and communications.
The year-on-year rise in CPI was attributed to price increases in five groups led by transport, which surged 7.9%, followed by education with 3%, and health with 2.6%. Moreover, furniture and household equipment rose 1.4% and miscellaneous goods and services added 0.3%.
On the other hand, on a year-on-year basis, several groups fell, led by recreation and culture with 3.3%, restaurants and hotels with 2.6%, housing, water, electricity and other fuels with 2.3%.
If the housing group as well as the water, electricity, and other fuels group are excluded, the CPI will reach 106.3 points, down 0.7% from April and 0.8% higher when compared to May 2016.
