Consumer prices in Qatar fell 2.1 per cent on an annual basis in August, the mildest deflation this year, and rose 0.1 per cent from the previous month, data from the Gulf country's statistics authority showed on Sunday.

Analysts expected price growth in the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter to stay in negative territory this year due to weakness in the housing market.

The Opec member's economy is seen largely outperforming fellow Gulf oil energy producers with expected growth of 15.5 per cent this year, up from 8.7 per cent in 2009, due to expansion of gas output and government infrastructure spending.-Reuters