The CPI-based cost of living was down 0.4% on a quarterly basis, mainly on declined expenses towards recreation and transport, the Planning and Statistics Authority data suggest.
Highlighting that headline inflation remains subdued; the International Monetary Fund (IMF), after its officials concluded their visit to Qatar, said the proposed restructuring in the fiscal space, including taxation, may slightly lift price levels in the future.
The IMF, in its 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.
Communication, which carries 5.87% weight, saw its group index plummet 11.3% year-on-year during Q4, 2018, but saw a 0.6% increase quarter-on-quarter.
Recreation and Culture, which have 12.68% weightage in the CPI basket, saw a 3.8% and 3.3% decline on yearly and quarterly basis respectively during Q4, 2018.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages, which has a weight of 12.58% in the CPI basket, witnessed 2.8% shrinkage in its group index year-on-year during Q4, 2018, but on a quarterly basis, it was up 0.6%.
The index of housing, water, electricity and other fuels – with a weight of 21.89% in the CPI basket – tanked 2.7% year-on-year during Q4, 2018 and it was down 0.8% quarter-on-quarter.
However, Education, with 5.75% weightage, saw its index expanded 9.4% year-on-year during Q4, 2018, and 2.9% against the previous quarter of 2018.
Transport, which has 14.59% weightage, saw its group index vault 5.6% year-on-year but declined 0.8% quarter-on-quarter during Q4, 2018. The sector has the direct linkage to the dismantling of administered prices in petrol and diesel, as part of lessening the subsidies.
The index of health, which carries 1.79% weightage, expanded 3.3% on a yearly basis and by a marginal 0.1% on a quarterly basis.
Furniture and household equipment, which have 7.7% weightage in the CPI basket, saw its index grow 1.7% compared with Q4, 2017 and it was up 0.1% quarter-on-quarter.
The index of clothing and footwear, which carry 5.11% weight, was up 0.5% on a yearly basis but stood unchanged on a quarterly basis.
The index of Restaurants and Hotels, which have 6.08% weight, witnessed 0.4% and 0.5% growth year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter respectively.
Miscellaneous Goods and Services, which have 5.69% weightage, saw its index rise 0.1% and 0.4% on yearly and quarterly basis respectively.
Tobacco, which has a 0.27% weight, stood unchanged both annually and quarterly during Q4, 2018 but expected to expand with the government increasing tax on it substantially with effect from January this year.