The average inflation rate across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries fell to 1.7 percent in 2024, down from 2.2 percent in 2023.
According to data from the GCC Statistical Center, notable inflation differences were observed across categories. Housing costs saw the highest increase at 5.7 percent, followed by restaurants and hotels as well as culture and recreation at 1.8 percent each. Education rose by 1.7 percent, food and beverages by 1.5 percent, and miscellaneous goods and services by 1.1 percent. Meanwhile, the healthcare category declined by 0.2 percent, followed by clothing and footwear (-0.7%), communications (-1.0%), tobacco (-1.1%), and furniture (-1.6%). Transport recorded the largest decline at 2.0 percent.
Source: (Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper, Edited)
