Inflation was unchanged in April 2024, coming in at 1.6% — the same rate asthe previous month according to fresh figures from the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) (pdf). That’s a bit slower than the 1.8% y-o-y pace at which prices rose in February. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.3% m-o-m last month, driven by a 0.4% increase in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices.

Real estate remained the biggest factor, with villas driving up rents: A 9.4% y-o-y increase in villa rental prices led to a 10.4% y-o-y hike in the price of the overall rent sector last month, according to Gastat.

Eating out and domestic travel have also gotten more expensive, with restaurant and hotel prices rising 2% y-o-y in April. Food and beverages inched up 0.8% y-o-y, while tuition and other education-related expenses rose 1.1% y-o-y last month.

What’s getting cheaper? Clothes and cars. The 6.6% y-o-y drop in the price of ready-made clothing drove a 4.2% y-o-y decline in the overall clothing and footwear sector last month. It’s the third month in a row that clothing and footwear prices have fallen. Transportation prices also dropped 1.6% y-o-y, fueled by a 2.9% y-o-y decline in car prices, despite car prices reportedly rising 15% over the last five years.

Producer prices rose 3.4% y-o-y in April, fueled by a 14.5% increase in the price of basic chemicals, and a 12% hike in that of refined petroleum products .Meanwhile, wholesale prices dipped 0.4% m-o-m last month, Gastat data shows (pdf).

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