MUSCAT, OMAN / RankWire.AI / – In August 2026, Oman’s yearly inflation rate reached 3.4%, marking a continuation of recent increases in consumer prices. The inflation figure was 3.2% in July and 2.8% in June. The average inflation from January to August was 2.9%. The National Centre for Statistics and Information announced these latest figures in its August consumer price index report. Among the main expenditure categories, transport and food experienced the most significant price hikes.
Transport costs increased by 8.5% compared to August 2025, representing the largest annual rise among key consumer sectors. Food and non-alcoholic beverages followed, with a 7% increase. Personal goods and services rose 6.1%, while restaurant and hotel prices went up by 3.6%. The cost of furniture, household equipment, and routine maintenance grew 3.1%. Education expenses increased by 2.2%, and healthcare costs rose 1.7%. Meanwhile, prices for culture and recreation edged up only 0.4%.
In contrast, several other categories experienced more modest changes. Clothing and footwear prices grew just 0.1%, and communication and tobacco costs remained steady year-on-year. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels saw a 0.6% decline. The August figures also highlighted notable regional variations. According to official consumer price data, annual inflation ranged from 2.1% in Dhofar to 4.8% in Al Dhahirah.
Transport and Food Lead August’s Price Increases
Al Dhahirah experienced the highest annual inflation rate at 4.8%, followed by Muscat at 3.9%. Al Dakhiliyah recorded a 3.8% increase, while Al Wusta was at 3.4%. Musandam and Al Buraimi each registered 3.3%, and South Al Sharqiyah saw 3.1%. South Al Batinah’s inflation stood at 2.7%, with North Al Batinah at 2.5% and North Al Sharqiyah at 2.2%. Dhofar recorded the lowest rate at 2.1%.
Food costs experienced some of the most substantial annual gains in August. Vegetables surged 19%, and fruit prices rose by 16.3%. Meat prices increased 9.8%, while non-alcoholic beverages went up 3.5%. Other food items saw a 3.1% rise, with milk, cheese, and eggs climbing 3%. Sugar, jam, honey, and sweets advanced 2.3%. Bread and cereals experienced a smaller increase of 0.8%, reflecting the wide variation in food price movements.
Fresh Produce Prices Witness Steepest Growth
Oils and fats rose by 0.1% from August 2025, whereas fish prices decreased by 0.1%. Despite this, the overall food and non-alcoholic beverages group still grew 7% over the year. That increase was second only to transport among the main consumer categories. The data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information indicated vegetables, fruit, and meat as the biggest contributors to the food sector’s gains. Several other grocery categories posted smaller increases, while fish was the only food segment to decline.
The August figures continued the upward trend in Oman’s headline inflation in recent months. After rising from 2.8% in June to 3.2% in July, inflation hit 3.4% in August. In July, food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 7.3%, and transport prices were 6.5% higher. By August, transport inflation had risen further to 8.5%, while food inflation slightly eased to 7%. The average inflation rate for January through August remained at 2.9% for 2026.