The overall CPI basket fell 7.3 per cent during January, followed by a further 1.1 per cent in February and 1.5 per cent in March.

The figures, released by the Qatar Statistics Authority, are the first monthly numbers the government has produced.

Food and beverage prices also began to fall in February, declining 1.4 per cent between January and February, and 0.5 per cent between February and March.

Inflation in Qatar peaked at nearly 17 per cent in mid-2008.