Saudi Consumer Inflation Stays Subdued in April at 1.7%
Consumer Price Index edges up by 0.2% month on month; housing rents drive annual increase
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's inflation rate remained relatively stable in April, with consumer prices rising 1.7 percent year on year, according to data released by the Kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
The Consumer Price Index edged up by 0.2 percent month on month, reflecting moderate increases across food, housing, and transportation categories.The housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels category remained the largest contributor to annual inflation, with prices rising 3.8 percent from a year earlier.
This increase was primarily driven by actual housing rents, which rose 4.8 percent.Compared to neighboring Gulf economies, Saudi Arabia's inflation rate has remained relatively contained.
For example, Kuwait recorded an annual inflation rate of 2.06 percent in March, while Qatar's latest inflation reading stood at 2.51 percent in February.
Bahrain posted a lower annual inflation rate of 1.1 percent in March.GASTAT reported that prices for furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance decreased by 0.5 percent due to declining furniture, furnishings, and loose carpets prices, which fell by 1.9 percent.Transportation costs rose 1 percent year on year, supported by a 5.2 percent increase in passenger transport services.
Restaurant and accommodation services also increased by 1 percent.
Food and beverage prices saw an annual increase of 0.6 percent, driven mainly by a 1.8 percent rise in fresh, chilled or frozen meat prices.On a monthly basis, food and beverage prices rose 0.8 percent in April, while housing and transportation each recorded a 0.3 percent increase compared to March.
Restaurant and accommodation services declined 0.3 percent during the month, and prices for education, entertainment, communications, and tobacco remained largely unchanged.Separately, GASTAT reported that wholesale prices increased by 3.3 percent year on year in April.
This was led by a 6.4 percent increase in prices for other transportable goods excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment.
Wholesale prices rose by 0.2 percent month on month.The main contributors to wholesale inflation were higher basic chemicals prices, which surged by 34.9 percent annually, and refined petroleum products, which increased by 3.9 percent.
Metal products, machinery, and equipment prices rose by 1.1 percent year on year, supported by a 4.4 percent increase in basic metals prices.Food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles saw an 0.8 percent annual increase in wholesale prices due to higher meat, fish, fruit, vegetable, oil, and fat prices.
Agriculture and fishery products also rose 1.7 percent compared to April 2025, while ores and minerals prices declined by 0.3 percent.
The Consumer Price Index edged up by 0.2 percent month on month, reflecting moderate increases across food, housing, and transportation categories.The housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels category remained the largest contributor to annual inflation, with prices rising 3.8 percent from a year earlier.
This increase was primarily driven by actual housing rents, which rose 4.8 percent.Compared to neighboring Gulf economies, Saudi Arabia's inflation rate has remained relatively contained.
For example, Kuwait recorded an annual inflation rate of 2.06 percent in March, while Qatar's latest inflation reading stood at 2.51 percent in February.
Bahrain posted a lower annual inflation rate of 1.1 percent in March.GASTAT reported that prices for furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance decreased by 0.5 percent due to declining furniture, furnishings, and loose carpets prices, which fell by 1.9 percent.Transportation costs rose 1 percent year on year, supported by a 5.2 percent increase in passenger transport services.
Restaurant and accommodation services also increased by 1 percent.
Food and beverage prices saw an annual increase of 0.6 percent, driven mainly by a 1.8 percent rise in fresh, chilled or frozen meat prices.On a monthly basis, food and beverage prices rose 0.8 percent in April, while housing and transportation each recorded a 0.3 percent increase compared to March.
Restaurant and accommodation services declined 0.3 percent during the month, and prices for education, entertainment, communications, and tobacco remained largely unchanged.Separately, GASTAT reported that wholesale prices increased by 3.3 percent year on year in April.
This was led by a 6.4 percent increase in prices for other transportable goods excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment.
Wholesale prices rose by 0.2 percent month on month.The main contributors to wholesale inflation were higher basic chemicals prices, which surged by 34.9 percent annually, and refined petroleum products, which increased by 3.9 percent.
Metal products, machinery, and equipment prices rose by 1.1 percent year on year, supported by a 4.4 percent increase in basic metals prices.Food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles saw an 0.8 percent annual increase in wholesale prices due to higher meat, fish, fruit, vegetable, oil, and fat prices.
Agriculture and fishery products also rose 1.7 percent compared to April 2025, while ores and minerals prices declined by 0.3 percent.
