Qatar’s Annual Inflation Increases

The price index rose in Qatar by annual measure until last March. (QNA)
The price index rose in Qatar by annual measure until last March. (QNA)
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Qatar’s Annual Inflation Increases

The price index rose in Qatar by annual measure until last March. (QNA)
The price index rose in Qatar by annual measure until last March. (QNA)

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%.



Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Await US Fed Policy Cues

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Await US Fed Policy Cues

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold prices remained steady on Wednesday, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates due later in the day, while also focusing on US President Donald Trump's trade policies following his tariff threats.

Spot gold eased 0.2% to $2,758.49 per ounce by 09:55 a.m. ET (1455 GMT), while US gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,775.60, widening the premium over spot gold rates.

The Fed is scheduled to release its latest policy decision and statement at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT), with Fed Chair Jerome Powell due to hold a press conference half an hour later to elaborate on the meeting.

The US central bank is widely expected to hold interest rates steady as it awaits further inflation and jobs data and more clarity on the economic impact of Trump's policies before deciding whether to cut borrowing costs again.

"However, the Fed's commentary in regards to the potential for an interest rate cut in the March meeting is going to be in focus," said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.

Gold prices neared all-time highs last week after Trump called for lower interest rates. Bullion tends to thrive in a low-interest-rate environment as it yields no interest.

Prices, however, retreated sharply on Monday as a sell-off in technology stocks, driven by Chinese AI model DeepSeek, sparked a rush to liquidate bullion to counter losses, according to Reuters.

The sell-off in the stock market seen on Monday may not be over and the unpredictability of Trump's policies is contributing to an increased demand for gold as a safe-haven, said Jim Wyckoff, a senior market analyst at Kitco Metals.

Trump still plans to make good on his promise to issue tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and his policies are widely seen as inflationary.

Elsewhere, spot silver gained 1.7% to $30.92 per ounce, platinum also added 0.5% to $946.45. Palladium was up 0.8% to $962.50.