Muscat - QNA
The statistics recently published by the National Data and Statistics Center pointed out that the inflation rate of the Sultanate of Oman rose by (2.9%) last April 2012 compared to the corresponding month in 2011 and (0.1%) higher compared to the previous month 2012. The statistics pointed out that despite the rise in the index, the foodstuffs, beverage and tobacco group recorded decrease in prices by (0.1%) in April 2012 compared to the previous month of the same year, according to Oman news agency (ONA). The consumer price index hike in the Sultanate in April 2012 compared to March 2012 is attributed to the hike in the prices of personal commodities group and other services by (0.7%) due to the hike in the housemaids by (6.6%), culture and recreational services group by (0.5%) due to the increase in the prices of some magazines by (8.6%), expenditure on the hotels by (4.1%), as well as the transport and communications group by (0.3%) due the increase in the auto repair and maintenance prices by (6.7%), auto insurance by (4.1%), airfares by (1.1%), driving education by (0.4%), the ready to wear, textiles and shoes by (0.3%) due to the increase in the prices of fabric, men textile and tailoring costs by (2.9%) and (0.6%) respectively.