Oman’s Annual Inflation Moderates to 2.9% in October as Food Leads Price Growth
The Takeaway: Price growth in Oman slowed for a second straight month in October, bringing the annual rate to 2.9%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, up 7.6% on the year, stayed the fastest-rising group, while housing costs rose 0.1%. In The Edge’s reading, food and transport now drive the headline rate, with housing, the basket’s largest group, barely moving.
Oman’s annual inflation rate eased to 2.9% in October from 3.2% in September, the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) said in its monthly consumer price report.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 7.6% from a year earlier, slower than the 8.0% recorded in September, and remained the fastest-rising major group in the index.
Fresh produce drove the food bill. Vegetable prices were 17.0% higher than in October 2025 and fruit prices 16.9% higher. Meat rose 10.5% over the same period.
Transport moved the other way, accelerating to 5.6% from 4.8% in September. Tobacco, a very small item in the basket, rose 4.7% after showing no change a month earlier.
Miscellaneous goods and services slowed to 1.6% from 4.7% in September. Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance also eased, and the table below carries every group.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, the largest group with a weight of 31.7, rose 0.1% on the year, matching its September rate.
The national index stood at 111.1 points in October against 110.7 in September, on a 2018 base. October’s rate, a second straight monthly slowdown, was the slowest since June, and inflation averaged 2.9% over January to October.
Among the governorates, Muscat recorded 3.0%. Al Dhahirah and Al Wusta posted the highest rate at 3.8%, while Dhofar recorded the lowest.
With housing, the largest group in the basket, almost flat, fresh food prices are the main swing factor in the annual rate, in The Edge’s reading.
Oman consumer prices by group (annual change, %)
| Item | Sep | Oct |
|---|---|---|
| General index | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 8.0 | 7.6 |
| Food: vegetables | 20.1 | 17.0 |
| Food: fruits | 16.3 | 16.9 |
| Food: meat | 10.3 | 10.5 |
| Transport | 4.8 | 5.6 |
| Tobacco | 0.0 | 4.7 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Health | 1.7 | 1.8 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 4.7 | 1.6 |
| Furnishings and household maintenance | 3.3 | 1.0 |
| Communication | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| Recreation and culture | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Education | 2.2 | 0.4 |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Method: the index is based on 2018 at 100; Sep and Oct are September and October 2026. The comparison of October’s rate with earlier months is The Edge’s reading of the monthly series printed in the National Centre for Statistics and Information consumer price inflation report for October 2026, released in November 2026; September’s group rates are from its report for September 2026, released in October 2026, and the October report leaves September’s index and rate unchanged.
Sources: National Centre for Statistics and Information, The Edge.
