Doha: The CPI-based monthly inflation in December witnessed a marginal increase of 0.46 percent compared to the CPI of November 2019 as result of increase in the prices of recreation and transport services.
When compared on year-on-year, the inflation in December noticed a decline of 0.33 percent against the CPI of corresponding month in previous year (December 2018), data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) show.
The CPI of December 2019 reached to 108.26 point (base year is 2013).
An analysis (on M-o-M basis) of CPI for December 2019 compared with CPI, November 2019, shows that there are three main groups, where respective indices in this month have increased, namely: “Recreation and Culture” by 4.90 percent, “Transport” by 1.17 percent, and “Restaurants and Hotels” by 0.36 percent.
A decreased has recorded in “Food and Beverages” by 1.34 percent, followed by “Clothing and Footwear” by 1.29 percent, “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 0.37 percent, “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 0.10 percent, and “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 0.06 percent. “Tobacco”, “Health”, “Communication”, and “Education” groups had remained flat at the last month’s price level.
A comparison of the CPI, December 2019 with the CPI, December 2018 (annual change), a decrease has been recorded in the general index (CPI), by 0.33 percent.
This (Y-o-Y) price decrease was primary due to the prices decline seen in the five groups namely: “Recreation and Culture” by 2.89 percent, “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 2.61 percent “Transport” by 2.17 percent, “Communication” by 0.11 percent, and “Health” by 0.07 percent.
An increase has been shown in price levels in seven groups namely: “Tobacco” by 127.19 percent, “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 3.46 percent, “Clothing and Footwear” by 3.05 percent, “Restaurants and Hotels” by 1.74 percent, “Food and Beverages” by 0.98 percent, “Education” by 0.93 percent, and “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 0.02 percent.
The CPI of December, 2019 excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” group stands at 109.58 points showing an increase of 0.69 percent when compared to the index of November 2019, and a 0.30 percent when compared to the CPI of December, 2018.
Source from: The Peninsula