Costlier food items and transportation led Qatar’s cost of living, based on consumer price index (CPI), to rise 0.2% in August compared to the previous month’s levels, according to official estimates.
The country’s annual CPI inflation is up 2.9% year-on-year, figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics showed.
The food and beverage segment, which has a weight of 12.58% in the CPI basket, saw its group index increase 1.1% month-on-month in August this year, even as it declined 1.8% y-o-y.
The transport sector, which has a 14.59% bearing on the CPI basket, saw its group index expand 0.8% in August 2016 against the previous month’s level, while it showed a higher 4.4% increase y-o-y.
The housing, water, electricity and other fuel group - with a weight of 21.89% in the CPI basket - saw its index rise 3.8% y-o-y in August 2016 and it was up 0.1% from the previous month’s level.
The CPI of August 2016, excluding “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” group showed an increase of 2.6% y-o-y and 0.3% month-on-month.
The clothing and footwear group, which carries 5.11% weight in the CPI basket, saw its group index increase 1.6% y-o-y in August this year and it was up 0.4% against July 2016 level.
Education group, which carries 5.75% weight in the CPI basket, saw an increase of 7.1% y-o-y in August 2016 and the index was unchanged from the July level.
Miscellaneous goods and services, which has a 5.69% weight in the CPI basket, witnessed a 4.9% rise y-o-y in August 2016; it rose 0.3% against the July 2016 level.
The recreation and culture segment, which has a 12.68% bearing on the CPI basket, saw its index surge 7.1% y-o-y in August this year, while it was down 0.7% 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 August 2016 and it was unchanged compared to the previous month’s level.
Communication, which carries 5.87% weight in the CPI basket, saw its group index rise 0.1% y-o-y in August this year, even as it was unchanged against the previous month’s level.
The restaurants and hotels segment, which has a 6.08% weight in the CPI basket, saw its group index decline 3.2% y-o-y in August 2016 and by a marginal 0.1% month-on-month.
The health sector, with a 1.79% weight in the CPI basket, witnessed a 1% dip y-o-y in August this year even as it was flat against July 2016 level.
The tobacco group, which has a 0.27% grip on the CPI basket, was unchanged both y-o-y and month-on-month in August 2016.