MUSCAT Latest reports released by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) reveal an overall increase in inflation rates across the GCC region between 1.53 per cent and 2.8 per cent over a 12-month period through April 2014.

Qatar topped the list with an inflation rate of 2.8 per cent followed by Kuwait with 2.72 per cent, Saudi Arabia with 2.7 per cent, UAE with 2.12 per cent, Bahrain with 1.9 per cent, and Oman with 1.53 per cent.

When weighed against March 2014 figures, Oman topped the list with an increase of 0.58 per cent, followed by 0.3 per cent in Saudi Arabia, 0.25 per cent in the UAE, 0.2 per cent in Qatar, and 0.08 per cent in Kuwait. Bahrain was the only country in the region to witness decline in inflation recording 0.7 per cent in April 2014 compared to the previous month.

There was an increase over the 12-month period with education up by 5.0 per cent in Bahrain and 4.56 per cent in the UAE, tobacco prices in Saudi Arabia grew by 6.4 per cent, while furniture and household goods went up in Oman by 7.52 per cent and 4.9 per cent in Kuwait, housing and energy rose in Qatar by 6.3 per cent.

Figures showed a decrease in other categories whereby medical care in the UAE recorded a decrease of 0.09 per cent, while communication in Bahrain showed a 0.6 per cent decrease, transportation in Saudi Arabia and Oman went down by 2.2 per cent and 0.59 per cent respectively, while prices for miscellaneous goods and services decreased in Qatar and Kuwait by 1.8 per cent and 2.38 per cent.

The figures revealed an increase in the furniture and household category through April 2014 where Oman came first with 7.52 per cent.