RIYADH — Annual inflation rate or Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Saudi Arabia rose to 1.7 percent during the last month of April compared to the same month last year. According to the statistical report published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Thursday, this increase is primarily attributed to a 3.8 percent rise in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices, along with a one percent increase in transportation costs and a one percent rise in restaurant and accommodation services. The GASTAT explained that residential rents were the biggest contributor to the inflation rate last month, with prices in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels sector rising by 3.8 percent, driven by a 4.8 percent increase in actual housing rents. Prices in the transportation sector also rose by one percent, influenced by a 5.2 percent increase in passenger transport services. The restaurants and accommodation services sector saw a one percent increase, fueled by a two percent rise in accommodation prices. The personal care, social protection, and other goods and services sector experienced a 6.3 percent increase, resulting from a 20.8 percent rise in the prices of other personal products, which was impacted by a 22.5 percent increase in jewelry and watches prices. Similarly, prices in the insurance and financial services sector rose by 2.3 percent, driven by a 4 percent increase in insurance group prices. Prices in the recreation, sports, and culture sector increased by 1.8 percent due to a 2.3 percent rise in holiday package prices.In the education sector, prices rose by 1.4 percent, driven by a 1.6 percent increase in secondary education costs. Information and communication prices also rose by 1.3 percent, fueled by a 1.8 percent increase in the information and communication services group. Food and beverage prices increased by 0.6 percent, influenced by a 1.8 percent rise in the prices of fresh, chilled, or frozen meat. Conversely, prices in the furniture, household appliances, and routine home maintenance sector fell by 0.5 percent, due to a 1.9 percent decline in furniture, furnishings, and carpets. Clothing and footwear prices also decreased by 0.3 percent impacted by a 0.4 percent drop in clothing prices.On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.2 percent in April 2026 compared to March 2026, driven by a 0.8 percent increase in food and beverage prices. This increase was primarily due to a 0.9 percent rise in food prices, as well as increases in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (0.3 percent), transportation (0.3 percent), health (0.2 percent), insurance and financial services (0.5 percent), and furniture, household appliances, and routine maintenance (0.1percent). The wholesale price index recorded a 3.3 percent increase in April, compared to the same month in 2025. This increase is mainly attributed to a 6.4 percent rise in the prices of other transportable goods, excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment, along with a 1.1percent increase in the prices of metal products, machinery, and equipment. The authority explained that the prices of other transportable goods witnessed a 6.4 percent increase during April 2026 compared to April 2025, driven by a 34.9 percent rise in the prices of basic chemicals and a 3.9 percent increase in the prices of refined petroleum products. The prices of metal products, machinery, and equipment also rose by 1.1 percent, resulting from a 4.4 percent increase in the prices of basic metals and a 0.3 percent increase in the prices of transportation equipment. The authority indicated that prices for food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles rose by 0.8 percent, driven by a 3 percent increase in the prices of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, oils, and fats, along with a 0.4 percent rise in the prices of grain mill products, starches, and other food products. Prices for agricultural and fishing products increased by 1.7 percent, resulting from a 1.4 percent rise in agricultural product prices and a 3.4 percent increase in the prices of livestock and animal products. Conversely, prices for raw materials and minerals decreased by 0.3 percent due to a 0.3 percent drop in the prices of stones and sand.RIYADH — Annual inflation rate or Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Saudi Arabia rose to 1.7 percent during the last month of April compared to the same month last year. According to the statistical report published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Thursday, this increase is primarily attributed to a 3.8 percent rise in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices, along with a one percent increase in transportation costs and a one percent rise in restaurant and accommodation services. The GASTAT explained that residential rents were the biggest contributor to the inflation rate last month, with prices in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels sector rising by 3.8 percent, driven by a 4.8 percent increase in actual housing rents. Prices in the transportation sector also rose by one percent, influenced by a 5.2 percent increase in passenger transport services. The restaurants and accommodation services sector saw a one percent increase, fueled by a two percent rise in accommodation prices. The personal care, social protection, and other goods and services sector experienced a 6.3 percent increase, resulting from a 20.8 percent rise in the prices of other personal products, which was impacted by a 22.5 percent increase in jewelry and watches prices. Similarly, prices in the insurance and financial services sector rose by 2.3 percent, driven by a 4 percent increase in insurance group prices. Prices in the recreation, sports, and culture sector increased by 1.8 percent due to a 2.3 percent rise in holiday package prices.In the education sector, prices rose by 1.4 percent, driven by a 1.6 percent increase in secondary education costs. Information and communication prices also rose by 1.3 percent, fueled by a 1.8 percent increase in the information and communication services group. Food and beverage prices increased by 0.6 percent, influenced by a 1.8 percent rise in the prices of fresh, chilled, or frozen meat. Conversely, prices in the furniture, household appliances, and routine home maintenance sector fell by 0.5 percent, due to a 1.9 percent decline in furniture, furnishings, and carpets. Clothing and footwear prices also decreased by 0.3 percent impacted by a 0.4 percent drop in clothing prices.On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.2 percent in April 2026 compared to March 2026, driven by a 0.8 percent increase in food and beverage prices. This increase was primarily due to a 0.9 percent rise in food prices, as well as increases in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (0.3 percent), transportation (0.3 percent), health (0.2 percent), insurance and financial services (0.5 percent), and furniture, household appliances, and routine maintenance (0.1percent). The wholesale price index recorded a 3.3 percent increase in April, compared to the same month in 2025. This increase is mainly attributed to a 6.4 percent rise in the prices of other transportable goods, excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment, along with a 1.1percent increase in the prices of metal products, machinery, and equipment. The authority explained that the prices of other transportable goods witnessed a 6.4 percent increase during April 2026 compared to April 2025, driven by a 34.9 percent rise in the prices of basic chemicals and a 3.9 percent increase in the prices of refined petroleum products. The prices of metal products, machinery, and equipment also rose by 1.1 percent, resulting from a 4.4 percent increase in the prices of basic metals and a 0.3 percent increase in the prices of transportation equipment. The authority indicated that prices for food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles rose by 0.8 percent, driven by a 3 percent increase in the prices of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, oils, and fats, along with a 0.4 percent rise in the prices of grain mill products, starches, and other food products. Prices for agricultural and fishing products increased by 1.7 percent, resulting from a 1.4 percent rise in agricultural product prices and a 3.4 percent increase in the prices of livestock and animal products. Conversely, prices for raw materials and minerals decreased by 0.3 percent due to a 0.3 percent drop in the prices of stones and sand.
Saudi inflation reaches 1.7% in April
