DOHA: Prices eased in May compared to a year earlier, led by a considerable decline in recreation costs. But there was little reprieve from rising house rents.
Consumer Prices Index (CPI) figures for May released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics show year-on-year inflation was less than one percent in the month, at 0.87.
But the category which includes house rent (Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas) rose 2.27 percent, and transport became 2.85 percent costlier in a year.
Monthly inflation (comparison of April and May 2015) was 0.56 percent, led chiefly by suddenly surging recreation costs.
Recreation and culture as head of people’s expenditure, with a weight in CPI basket of 12.68 percent (as it includes foreign leisure travel by families) rose 5.09 percent in a month.
Rent remained flat in the monthly comparison of prices and so was the case with transport.
Food became marginally expensive in a year last May with prices rising by 0.6 percent.
Tobacco and education witnessed highest price rise in a year — 8.59 percent and 11.14 percent, respectively.
Sheep prices stable
Supply of subsidised sheep has helped prices remain stable during Ramadan despite increase in demand, Widam Company told local Arabic daily Al Raya.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has allocated to the company 30,000 Jordanian and Syrian sheep for the holy month.
There is high demand for subsidised sheep because a Syrian sheep weighing 40kg is sold for QR950 and a Jordanian sheep of 35kg for QR850.
The stability in prices is due to supply of subsidised sheep, said Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Khayarin, CEO, Widam.
He said customers bought 4,000 sheep in the last four days and demand is expected to reach 6,000 a day.
The company will also supply 70,000 Australian sheep and 70,000 frozen sheep meat. It is also offering home delivery.
The slaughter houses are open from 5am to 5pm and there is a security company to manage customers.
The company also fixed charges for porters at QR34 a sheep. The number of cleaners in slaughter houses has also been increased.
There is separate waiting halls for male and female customers in four traditional houses in Al Mahmoora, Al Mazrooa yard, Al Khor and Al Shamal.
Mohamed Al Sulaiti, a consumer, said the quality of sheep is good this year and prices are stable despite an increase in demand.
Mohamed Al Mansuri said Iranian sheep selling for QR850 each is a reasonable offer.
The Peninsula
