Consumer prices in Qatar decreased 0.3% year-on-year in December of 2018, following a 0.2% fall in the previous month. It was the third straight monthly decline in consumer prices, as cost fell further for communication (-11.4% from -11.3% in November) and food & beverages (-3.8% from -2.4%) while prices fell at the same pace for housing & utilities (-2.6%, the same as in November) and communication (-11.3%). In addition, prices dropped for clothing and footwear (-5% from 3.4%) and they declined at a softer pace for recreation & culture (-1.3% from -5.1%). Meanwhile, prices rose faster for transport (5.5% from 5.3%) and rebounded for miscellaneous goods and services (0.4% from -0.1%) while inflation was steady for furniture & household equipment (1.7%, the same as in November) and education (9.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.1%, the same as in November. Inflation Rate in Qatar averaged 2.71 percent from 2005 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 16.59 percent in June of 2008 and a record low of -9.96 percent in December of 2009.
Inflation Rate in Qatar is expected to be 1.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Inflation Rate in Qatar to stand at 2.50 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Qatar Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 2.80 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.