The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Qatar registered a 4.01% annual increase in March, compared to the CPI of March 2022, reaching 105.55 points.
On monthly basis, the CPI showed an increase of 0.20% when compared to the CPI of February 2023.
The increase has been recorded in the general index primarily due to the prices rising in eight groups namely: Recreation and Culture by 13.63%, followed by Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel by 8.65%, Clothing and Footwear by 4.90%, Education by 2.61%, Transport by 2.50%, Restaurants and Hotels by 2.25%, Health by 1.62%, and Food and Beverages by 1.06%.
A decrease has been shown in price levels in Miscellaneous Goods and Services by 0.34%, Communication by 4.84%, and Furniture and Household Equipment by 0.30%.
No changes were recorded on Tobacco.
When comparing the main components of CPI of March 2023, with the previous month (Monthly change), the groups that showed an increase included: Clothing and Footwear by 1.56%, followed by Recreation and Culture by 1.44%, Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel by 1.09%, Miscellaneous Goods and Services by 0.75%, and Transport by 0.53%.
A decrease has been recorded in Restaurants and Hotels by 1.90%, followed by Education by 1.58%, Food and Beverages by 1.08%, and Furniture and Household Equipment by 0.22%. Tobacco, Health, and Communication had remained flat at the last month's price level.
The CPI of March 2023 excluding Housing, Water, Electricity, and other Fuel group stands at 107.42 points, recording a decrease (almost stable) by 0.02% when compared to the index of February 2023. Compared with its counterpart in 2022, the CPI of the March index increased by 2.93%.