Shafaqna English– July data confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation remained subdued at 1.8%, reflecting a continuation of the country’s overall price stability. While housing and rents continued to be the predominant source of inflationary pressure, their impact was not sufficient to push the general price level significantly higher, indicating effective management of inflationary expectations.
The latest data from GASTAT, released on Thursday(13 Aug 2026), reveals that housing and utility costs experienced a 4.2% annual increase in July, largely driven by a 4.3% surge in actual rents. Other components of the consumer price index showed more modest gains, with food and beverages rising 1.5% and transport costs climbing 1.4% over the same period.
These figures demonstrate that inflationary pressures in Saudi Arabia are not widespread but rather isolated to specific sectors, primarily housing and utilities. As a result, the Kingdom continues to rank among the G20 economies with the lowest inflation rates, highlighting its success in maintaining overall price stability even as certain segments experience upward cost adjustments.
Source: Aawsat