A fall in expenses towards transport, recreation and food led Qatar’s cost of living, based on consumer price index (CPI), decline 0.4% this October compared to that in the previous month, according to official estimates.
The annual CPI inflation has, however, risen 2.2% year-on-year (y-o-y), mainly on costlier recreation, transport and housing and utilities, said the figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.
Recreation and Culture, which have 12.68% weightage in the CPI basket, saw its index decline 2.6% in October 2016 against the previous month’s level; while the index had expanded 6.6% y-o-y.
Transport, which has 14.59% weightage, saw its group index slide 1.1% in October this year compared to the previous month’s level; while it showed a 4.6% increase y-o-y.
Food and beverage, which has a weight of 12.58%, saw its group index fall 0.4% month-on-month in October 2016 and it had reported a sharper fall of 2.7% y-o-y. The index of Miscellaneous Goods and Services, which have 5.69% weightage, fell by a marginal 0.1% in October this year compared to the previous month, but overall it shot up 3.2% y-o-y. However, Restaurants and hotels, which have 6.08% weight, saw a 0.9% increase month-on-month in group index; whereas it reported a fall of 1.8% y-o-y.
Clothing and footwear, which carry 5.11% weight, saw its group index rise 0.8% month-on-month in October this year and it was up 0.2% against October 2015 level. Furniture and household equipment, which have 7.7% weightage, witnessed a 0.6% growth month-on-month in October 2016. It registered faster 2% gains y-o-y.
Housing, water, electricity and other fuels – with a weight of 21.89% – also saw its index rise 0.3% in October this year against the previous month’s level. The index is up 2.7% y-o-y.
The CPI of September 2016, excluding “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” showed an increase of 2.2% y-o-y, although it was down 0.3% month-on-month.
Health, which carries 1.79% weightage, reported a marginal 0.1% jump month-on-month in October 2016, while the index had fallen 0.8% y-o-y.
Education, with 5.75% weightage, treaded a flat course in October this year month-on-month but reported 3% expansion y-o-y.
Communication, which carries 5.87% weight, saw its group index also stay unchanged in October 2016 compared to the previous month’s level; but overall it was up 0.1% y-o-y.
Tobacco, which has 0.27% weight, was unchanged both y-o-y and month-on-month in October this year.