Qatar's consumer price index (CPI) dropped 2.6 percent in the first half mainly due to a decline in house rents, Doha-based Al-Arab daily reported on Thursday.
CPI fell 0.8 percent in June compared with the previous month, the paper said, citing a report by the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA).
The house rent, including electricity, water, and house maintenance costs declined 4.4 percent in June compared with January, the QSA report said according to the daily.
Apparel and footwear prices witnessed the sharpest fall dropping 8 percent over the same period, the report added.
The food, beverages, and tobacco category declined 2.6 percent with falling food prices although beverages and tobacco prices witnessed a hike in the first six months, Al-Arab said quoting the QSA report.