Saudi annual inflation steady at 1.8% in July

The General Authority for Statistics announced that Saudi Arabia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), the main measure of inflation, rose by 1.8% year-on-year in July, compared to the same month last year, maintaining the same rate for the third month in a row.

The authority attributed the 1.8% annual increase in July mainly to higher prices for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which rose by 4.2%, as well as food and beverages, up 1.5%, and transport, which increased by 1.4%.

The 4.2% rise in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category was driven by a 4.3% increase in actual housing rents. The personal care, social protection, and other goods and services category followed with a 2.9% rise, mainly due to an 11.1% increase in other personal belongings, which was affected by a 12% rise in jewelry and watches. The recreation, sport and culture category rose by 2.4%, driven by a 3.7% increase in holiday package prices.

The Consumer Price Index in July 2026 also recorded a slight monthly increase of 0.2% compared to June 2026, with housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels up by 0.9%.