Qatar Inflation Rate Picks Up in January

Qatar’s annual inflation rate eased to 2.20% in May 2026 from 2.84% in the previous month. This marked the lowest reading since December last year, driven by slower price increases for miscellaneous goods and services (12.52% vs. 13.82% in April), restaurants and hotels (0.31% vs. 0.90%), furniture and household equipment (0.74% vs. 0.81%), and communication (0.53% vs. 0.75%), while health prices slipped into deflation (-0.09% vs. 0.09%). These developments more than offset faster inflation in food and beverages (11.71% vs. 10.41%) and clothing and footwear (5.48% vs. 4.71%). In addition, transport prices declined at a much faster pace (-2.97% vs. -0.55%), while recreation and culture remained in deflation, with prices falling more sharply (-5.67% vs. -3.18%). Tobacco prices were unchanged, while housing, water, electricity, and other fuels recorded a 2.68% increase after the category was not reported in April. On a monthly basis, the CPI fell 0.51%, following a 0.92% decline in April.

Qatar’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.28% in January 2026, the highest since February 2024, picking up from 1.95% in December. The main upward pressures came from food and beverages (2.87% vs 0.63% in December) and furniture and household equipment (2.37% vs 1.39%). Inflation also increased for recreation and culture (4.90% vs 1.44%), education (2.08% vs 2.04%), and communication (0.40% vs 0.17%). Conversely, price growth slowed for miscellaneous goods and services (12.40% vs 18.68%), clothing and footwear (3.25% vs 3.28%), and housing, water, electricity, and other fuels (1.21% vs 1.50%). Deflation persisted in restaurants and hotels (-2% vs -0.65%), health (-1.38% vs -0.75%), and transport (-0.48% vs -0.42%), while tobacco prices remained unchanged. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 2.22%, following a 1.44% increase in December.

Qatar’s annual inflation rate eased slightly to 1.11% in October 2025 from 1.15% in the previous month, which was the highest level since August 2024. Upward price pressures were recorded in miscellaneous goods and services (15.80% vs 12.75% in September), education (2.07% vs 2.47%), clothing and footwear (1.65% vs 2.93%), furniture and household equipment (1.39% vs -0.35%), housing and utilities (0.66% vs -0.23%), recreation and culture (0.38% vs 1.53%), and communication (0.05% vs 0.56%). Downward price pressures came from restaurants and hotels (-2.34% vs -1.48%), health (-0.75% vs -0.07%), food and beverages (-0.70% vs 1.42%), and transport (-0.46% vs -1.12%), while tobacco prices remained unchanged. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.90%, matching the previous month and remaining the highest monthly inflation rate in eleven months.