Supported by higher oil prices this year compared to last year, Oman’s nominal GDP grew 12.3% in the first half of 2017, according to statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The sultanate’s GDP rose to OMR13bn during the January–June period of 2017 compared to OMR11.58bn in the same period of the previous year. Hydrocarbon GDP jumped 35% to OMR4.23bn in the first half of 2017 from OMR3.13bn in the same period last year. Non-oil GDP, on the other hand, increased 3.8% to OMR9.13bn. Oman’s budget deficit narrowed by 36.5% to OMR2.77bn during the January–August period from OMR4.37bn shortfall recorded during the first eight months of 2016.