Expenses towards transport, food, clothing and health witnessed robust increase on a yearly basis, but overall the cost of living in Qatar, based on consumer price index (CPI), was up 0.9% last month, according to official data.
The CPI inflation saw a 0.4% jump month-on-month in January, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics data shows.
The International Monetary Fund had said that during 2017-18, subsidy cuts, increase in public fees, a moderate recovery in global commodity prices and the implementation of a value added tax are expected to moderate Qatar’s inflation over the medium term.
The transport, which has a 14.59% weight, saw its group index vault 8.8% year-on-year and 1.9% on a monthly basis. The sector has the direct linkage to the dismantling of administered prices in petrol and diesel.
Food and beverages, which has a weight of 12.58% in the CPI basket, witnessed a 5.8% surge in its group index on a yearly basis but fell 1.1% on a monthly basis.
The index of health, which carries a 1.79% weight, soared 5.3% year-on-year and 2.2% month-on-month in January.
The index of clothing and footwear, which carry 5.11% weight, gained 3.8% and 1.9% on yearly and month basis respectively in January.
Miscellaneous goods and services, which has a 5.69% weight, saw its index increase 2.7% year-on-year and it was up mere 0.8% on a monthly basis.
Furniture and household equipment, which has a 7.7% weightage in the CPI basket, saw its index gain 1.2% and 1.1% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively this January.
The education, with a 5.75% weight, saw its index gain 0.9% on yearly basis in January but was down 0.1% month-on-month.
However, housing, water, electricity and other fuels – with a weight of 21.89% in the CPI basket – saw a 5.4% year-on-year plunge in its index in January; even as it treaded a flat path on a monthly basis.
The CPI of November 2017, excluding “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” showed an increase of 0.5% on a monthly basis and 2.9% on a yearly basis.
Recreation and culture, which has a 12.68% weight in the CPI basket, saw a 1.8% slump in index in January compared to previous year period and 0.6% on a monthly basis.
Communication, which carries a 5.87% weight, saw its group index tread a flat path this January against December 2017 level but shrank 1.1% year-on-year.
The index of restaurants and hotels, which has a 6.08% weight, was down 0.5% and 0.2% on yearly and monthly basis respectively this January.
Tobacco, which has 0.27% weight, stood unchanged both annually and monthly in January.
The International Monetary Fund had said that during 2017-18, subsidy cuts, increase in public fees, a moderate recovery in global commodity prices and the implementation of a value added tax are expected to moderate Qatar’s inflation over the medium term.
The transport, which has a 14.59% weight, saw its group index vault 8.8% year-on-year and 1.9% on a monthly basis. The sector has the direct linkage to the dismantling of administered prices in petrol and diesel.
Food and beverages, which has a weight of 12.58% in the CPI basket, witnessed a 5.8% surge in its group index on a yearly basis but fell 1.1% on a monthly basis.
The index of health, which carries a 1.79% weight, soared 5.3% year-on-year and 2.2% month-on-month in January.
The index of clothing and footwear, which carry 5.11% weight, gained 3.8% and 1.9% on yearly and month basis respectively in January.
Miscellaneous goods and services, which has a 5.69% weight, saw its index increase 2.7% year-on-year and it was up mere 0.8% on a monthly basis.
Furniture and household equipment, which has a 7.7% weightage in the CPI basket, saw its index gain 1.2% and 1.1% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively this January.
The education, with a 5.75% weight, saw its index gain 0.9% on yearly basis in January but was down 0.1% month-on-month.
However, housing, water, electricity and other fuels – with a weight of 21.89% in the CPI basket – saw a 5.4% year-on-year plunge in its index in January; even as it treaded a flat path on a monthly basis.
The CPI of November 2017, excluding “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” showed an increase of 0.5% on a monthly basis and 2.9% on a yearly basis.
Recreation and culture, which has a 12.68% weight in the CPI basket, saw a 1.8% slump in index in January compared to previous year period and 0.6% on a monthly basis.
Communication, which carries a 5.87% weight, saw its group index tread a flat path this January against December 2017 level but shrank 1.1% year-on-year.
The index of restaurants and hotels, which has a 6.08% weight, was down 0.5% and 0.2% on yearly and monthly basis respectively this January.
Tobacco, which has 0.27% weight, stood unchanged both annually and monthly in January.
