Kuwait’s annual inflation rate eased to a 25-month low of 2.8% in May and prices edged down slightly from the previous month, mainly because of cheaper food, state news agency Kuna reported yesterday.

Inflation in the major oil exporter has been slowing gradually. It hit 3.3% in April, down from a peak of 5.4% in May 2011.

Consumer prices fell 0.1% month-on-month in May, compared to a 0.6% drop in April, Kuna said, citing data from the Central Statistics Office.

“The low inflation reading is testament to a weak demand climate and anaemic credit growth,” said Liz Martins, senior regional economist at HSBC in Dubai. “Even with the salary hikes we have seen in recent months, we don’t expect a major pick-up in the short-to medium term.”

Around 3,000 Kuwaiti customs workers went on a week-long strike for higher pay in March, disrupting port traffic, while employees at national carrier Kuwait Airways grounded planes for three days during a walkout. The civil service commission eventually agreed to wage rises of 25% to 30% for public sector employees, and proposed increases of up to 330 dinars ($ 1,190) per month for Kuwaiti private sector workers.

Paul Gamble, head of research at Jadwa Investment in Riyadh, said there was very little inflationary pressure coming from abroad, while consumer and government spending were not increasing that much. “In general, the political uncertainty has hindered project implementation, which has kept a lid on one aspect of inflation,” he said.

Project spending in Kuwait has been slowed by political instability, which has seen eight governments come and go in just six years. On Tuesday, thousands of Kuwaitis protested against a court ruling that effectively dissolved a parliament dominated by opposition Islamists.
“June will be potentially sluggish but then we have Ramadan coming up, so we will obviously see the usual Ramadan impact on food prices,” Gamble said.

Food prices normally rise during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins in late July, as families enjoy elaborate evening meals after a daylight fast.