The inflation in Qatar, the world's No.1 liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter averaged 1.8 per cent in 2012, below forecasts and compared to 2 per cent in the previous year.

Rents and energy costs, which account for over 32 per cent of consumer expenses, rose 2.8 per cent year-on-year and 0.9 per cent month-on-month in December.

Food prices, which make up 13 per cent of the basket, increased 1.5 per cent on an annual basis but declined 0.3 percent from the previous month.

Analysts polled by Reuters in September expected the country to see average inflation of 2.4 per cent in 2012. -Reuters