Qatar’s cost of living, based on consumer price index (CPI), rose 0.8% in July compared to the previous month’s levels, mainly due to costlier transport, recreation and furniture. The country’s annual CPI inflation is up 2.8% year-on-year, according to figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.
The housing, water, electricity and other fuel group – with a weight of 21.89% in the CPI basket – saw its index rise 4.1% y-o-y in July 2016 and it was up 0.1% from the previous month’s level.
The CPI of July 2016, excluding “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” group showed an increase of 2.8% y-o-y and 0.9% month-on-month.
The transport sector, which has a 14.59% bearing in the CPI basket, saw its group index expand 3.3% y-o-y in July this year; it gained 2.8% against the previous month’s level.
The education group, which carries a 5.75% weight in the CPI basket, saw an increase of 7.1% y-o-y in July 2016. but the index was unchanged from the June level.
The miscellaneous goods and services segment, which has a 5.69% weight in the CPI basket, witnessed a 4.8% rise y-o-y in July 2016, and it rose 1.5% against the June 2016 level.
The recreation and culture group, which has a 12.68% sway in the CPI basket, saw its index surge 6.1% y-o-y in July this year, and it gained 2.4% month-on-month.
The furniture and household equipment group, which carries a 7.7% weight in the CPI basket, witnessed a 1.5% y-o-y rise in its index in July 2016 and it was up 1% compared to the previous month’s level.
The clothing and footwear group, which carries a 5.11% weight in the CPI basket, saw its group index increase 0.7% y-o-y in July, and it was up 0.4% against June 2016 level.
The communication segment, which carries a 5.87% weight in the CPI basket, saw its group index rise 0.1% y-o-y in July this year; even as it was unchanged against June 2016 level.
However, the restaurants and hotels segment, which has a 6.08% weight in the CPI basket, saw its group index tank 3.1% y-o-y in July 2016 and by 3% month-on-month.
The health sector, which carries a 1.79% weightage in the CPI basket, witnessed a 1% plunge y-o-y in July this year even as it was flat against June 2016 level.
The food and beverage group, which has a weight of 12.58% in the CPI basket, saw its group index decline 0.3% y-o-y in July this year, but was up 0.2% month-on-month.
The tobacco group, which has a 0.27% weight in the CPI basket, was unchanged both y-o-y and month-on-month.