Oman’s inflation rises 3.2% in July 2026, NCSI data shows

Muscat: Oman’s inflation rate rose 3.2% in July 2026 compared with the same month last year, while average inflation for the January–July 2026 period reached 2.9%, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).The food and non-alcoholic beverages group recorded the highest annual increase among the main categories at 7.3%, followed by transport at 6.5% and miscellaneous personal goods and services at 5.3%. Prices also increased for restaurants and hotels (3.6%), furniture and household equipment (3.1%), education (2.2%), health (1.7%) and culture and entertainment (0.4%).Meanwhile, prices for communications, tobacco, and clothing and footwear remained unchanged from July 2025. The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group declined by 0.6%.Al Dhahirah records highest inflationAt the governorate level, Al Dhahirah recorded the highest inflation rate at 4.4%, followed by Al Dakhiliyah at 3.7%.Muscat and Al Wusta each recorded inflation of 3.4%, while South Al Sharqiyah and Musandam registered 3.0% each. Al Buraimi recorded 2.8%.Inflation stood at 2.5% in both North Al Batinah and North Al Sharqiyah, and 2.4% in South Al Batinah.Dhofar recorded the lowest inflation rate at 2.1%.Within the food and non-alcoholic beverages category, vegetable prices surged 19.9% year-on-year, while fruit prices increased 15.8%.Meat prices rose 8.7%, fish prices 5.7%, and non-alcoholic beverages 3.3%. Prices of sugar, jam, honey and sweets increased 2.4%, while milk, cheese and eggs rose 2.2%. Food products not elsewhere classified increased 2.1%, bread and cereals 1.0%, and oils and fats 0.5%.The figures point to food and transport costs as the main drivers of Oman’s inflation in July, with food prices—particularly vegetables and fruits—recording the sharpest increases.