Consumer price index (CPI) July 2012

Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) has released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July 2012. The CPI for the month of July, 2012 was 111.1, showing an increase of 0.4% when compared to the CPI of June 2012 and, a 2.2% increase when compared to the CPI of July, 2011. A comparison with the CPI of June 2012, by major group, displays increases ranging between 0.1% and 1.5% in all the major groups with the exception of “Food, Beverages and Tobacco”, where prices were lower, by 0.4% and “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” which registered no change. The highest increase was in the group “Furniture, Textiles and Home Appliances”, which rose by 1.5 %, followed by “Garments and Footwear” 0.6%, and “Transport and Communication” 0.6%, mostly explained by continued rise in airfare. “Rent, Fuel and Energy”, recorded an increase of 0.4%. This is the first increase after consecutive month-to month declines which started during the fourth quarter of 2008. The 0.4% decline in “Food, Beverages & Tobacco is the result of the declaration issued by the Consumer Protection Department for the period ( Mid July- Mid Aug) which is Ramadan period. A year-on-year comparison, comparing the CPI of July 2012 with that of July 2011 showed increases of 2.2% at the overall level. Increases were recorded in all the major groups, with the exception of “Rent, Fuel and Energy”, which registered a drop of 3.9%. The highest increases were recorded in the groups: “Furniture, Textiles and Home Appliances”, 7.1%; “Entertainment, Recreation and Culture”, 6.1%; “Garments and Footwear”, 4.8%; “Miscellaneous Goods and Services”.3.8%,”Food and Beverages”, 3.7% and “Transport & Communications”,3.7%. A CPI exclusive of the Rent, Fuel and Energy group has also been calculated. After eliminating the effect of rent, the overall index reached 123.9, showing an increase of 0.3% compared to the CPI of June 2012, and an increase of 4.5 % when compared to the month of July 2011.