Oman: increase in the wholesale price index in Muscat

Monday, 12 July 2010 19:33

Oman (Muscat) - Oman witnessed an increase in the wholesale price index in Muscat Governorate by (2.2%) in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The index also registered a hike by 1.8% in the first quarter this year compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the monthly statistical bulletin issued by the Ministry of Oman Economy. The hike in the wholesale price index in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter in 2009 is attributed to the increase of the prices of some main groups, such as, the agricultural products group, the foodstuff , beverages and tobacco group and the mineral products, machinery and equipment group - despite the decline in wholesale price for the materials and mineral group, as well as, the other transferable commodities group. The bulletin pointed out that the wholesale price for the agricultural products recorded 9.4% in the first quarter of 2010 due to hike in the prices of fruits and live animals by 18.8% and 14.8% respectively. The foodstuff, beverages and tobacco group registered an increase by 2.4% due to the hike in the prices of frozen chicken by 2.9%, kingfish by 1.1% and corn oil by 11.1%. The cereals, starch and foodstuff products rose by 5.8% compared to 28.4% for sugar and 3.9% for rice. The mineral group, machinery and equipment rose by 1.7% due to the increase in iron price by 10%, machinery and electrical appliances by 8.3%, medical appliances, gauges, opticals and watches by 0.1%. On the other hand, the monthly statistical bulletin pointed out that the price of services group and minerals declined by 3% due to the 8.6% decrease in gypsum price. The other transferrable commodities group, excluding the metal products, machinery and equipment, recorded slight decrease by 0.2% due to the decrease in the price of paper products by 3.1%, rubber products by 1.5%, glass and cement products by 0.9%. (ONA)