The Ministry of Development Planning & Statistics (MDPS) issued a number of statistical reports and crucial press releases, which monitor the economic and social development in the State of Qatar during July 2014. They are available on the ministry’s website. One of the most important news released about events attended by the ministry last month was the meetings of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 2014, which was held during the period from 7 to July 9, 2014 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.The delegation of the State of Qatar in ECOSOC meetings was headed by HE Dr. Saleh Bin Mohammed al-Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics. During the Annual Ministerial Review of the Economic and Social Council, HE Dr. Saleh gave a presentation on the achievements of the State of Qatar in the human development, sustainable development, and national well-being, according to the goals and aspirations of Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 and the objectives of the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2011 – 2016.In addition, among the most important news issued last month was that the State of Qatar ranked 1st among Arab countries and ranked 31st globally in the 2014 Human Development Report “Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience,” which was launched in Tokyo. On this occasion, HE Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed al-Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, hailed this distinctive rank achieved by the State of Qatar in the 2014 Human Development Report, stressing that it reflects the human development taking place in the State of Qatar under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, may Allah protect him.Furthermore, HE the Minister highlighted the efforts exerted by all concerned authorities in the State to provide accurate and comprehensive statistics that reflect the progress achieved by Qatar in human development. HE Dr. Saleh  also evaluated the human development indicators team in the State of Qatar since its inception in 2008 and which includes all authorities concerned with human development indicators (education - health - environmental - economic - social ... etc.). This team worked to ensure timely access to Qatar’s statistical data and indicators by international organizations. Furthermore, MDPS also issued its report of Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade statistics for the month of June 2014, comprising data on exports, re-exports  and imports.The value of Qatar’s total exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) in June 2014 stood at QR41.5bn, witnessing a 3.3 % rise year-on-year compared to June 2013. On the other hand, the value of imports of goods in June 2014 amounted to QR9.2bn, registering an increase of 23.4% over the value recorded in the same month last year. In addition, Qatar's foreign trade surplus amounted to 32.3 billion riyals in June 2014, a decline by 0.4 billion riyals (1.3%) compared to June 2013.MDPS has also released  the “Producer Price Index (PPI) of Industrial sector for May, 2014”, which stands at 170.3, showing an increase of 0.3% over the PPI of April 2014; and an increase of 3.1% (year-on-year) when compared to the PPI of May 2013.The PPI of the Industrial sector covers Mining, Electricity & Water and Manufacturing activities.During the month of July, MDPS also issued the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for June 2014, which stood at 117.7 points, recording an increase of 0.1% compared to May 2014. The figure rose by 2.8% compared to June 2013.MDPS also issued the Quarterly National Accounts (QNA) which aims to provide a picture of current economic developments that is more timely than that provided by the Annual National Accounts (ANA) and more comprehensive than the data provided by short-term indicators.The quarterly estimates of Gross National Income (GNI), which is derived by adding the country’s net property income obtained from the rest of world to nation’s GDP, for the Q1, 2014 is placed at 183.58 Bn QR witnessing an increase of 3.2%, compared to the GNI estimate of Q1, 2013 [177.95 Bn QR].As for press released covering social areas, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) announced the results of the fifth Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HEIS) carried out by the Ministry over a period of 12 months from September 2012 to September 2013. Detailed data on household expenditures and monthly income were collected by the household with a diary/notebook provided by MDPS.The sample included 3723 households, 1826 of which were Qatari. The average Qatari household size was 8.7 persons, average non-Qatari household size 4.3 persons, while the average size of all households was 5.5 persons.Definition of “household” for the purposes of this HEIS survey is ” One or more individuals, living together in one house, sharing food and beverage and other living aspects, in a way to form one living unit (household) which spends on its needs (goods and services) from its accumulated cash revenue, the source being one or more individuals of the household”. The survey results indicate that the monthly household expenditure for Qatari households was QR 49,600, compared to QR 18,000 for non-Qatari households, and the average expenditure for all Qatari households was QR 26,500.