The CPI-based cost of living was up a marginal 0.04% on a monthly basis amidst flat course in four sectors, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics data suggest.
The International Monetary Fund, in its latest Article IV consultation with Qatar, viewed that inflation is expected to peak at 3.9% in 2018 before easing to 2.2% in the medium term; while a BMI report suggest Doha’s inflation to average 2.6% this year.
Transport, which has 14.59% weightage, saw its group index vault 8.4% year-on-year and 0.29% on a monthly basis. The sector has the direct linkage to the dismantling of administered prices in petrol and diesel, which have witnessed sustained increase in the recent past as part of lessening the subsidies.
The index of health, which carries 1.79% weightage, soared 4.27% on a yearly basis while it was flat on a monthly basis.
Furniture and household equipment, which have 7.7% weightage in the CPI basket, saw its index surge 2.67% compared with August 2017 and 0.02% year-on-year.
The index of clothing and footwear, which carry 5.11% weight, increased 2.65% year-on-year in August 2018 and 1.07% on a monthly basis.
Education, with 5.75% weightage, saw its index expand 2.44% year-on-year this August and 1.5% month-on-month.
Recreation and Culture, which have 12.68% weightage in the CPI basket, saw a 2.07% rise on a yearly basis but remained unchanged against July this year.
The index of Restaurants and Hotels, which have 6.08% weight, grew 0.09% on a yearly basis whereas it was down 0.11% on a monthly basis in August 2018. However, Communication, which carries 5.87% weight, saw its group index plunge 11.86% year-on-year in August 2018 but remained flat month-on-month.
The index of Housing, water, electricity and other fuels — with a weight of 21.89% in the CPI basket — plummeted 3.27% year-on-year in August 2018 and 0.71% on a monthly basis.
The CPI of August 2018, excluding “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” showed an increase of 0.3% and 1.7% on monthly and yearly basis respectively.
Food and beverages, which has a weight of 12.58% in the CPI basket, witnessed 0.31% decline in its group index on a yearly basis, although it grew 0.28% on a monthly basis.
Miscellaneous Goods and Services, which have 5.69% weightage, saw its index contract 0.4% and 0.64% on yearly and monthly basis respectively in August this year.
Tobacco, which has 0.27% weight, stood unchanged both annually and monthly in August 2018.