Saudi inflation holds steady at 1.9% in September despite shipping risks
Consumer prices remain flat month-on-month as housing and transport costs drive annual increases.
At a glance
- Consumer Price Index held at 1.9% year-on-year in September with no monthly change
- Housing, utilities and fuel sector saw the largest annual increase at 3.6%
- Wholesale prices rose 4.2% annually but declined 0.2% from the previous month
- Global maritime tensions pose risks to shipping costs and supply chains
Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate stayed at 1.9 percent in September, with no month-on-month change in consumer prices, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics. The stability persists despite potential disruptions to global trade from maritime tensions that could raise shipping costs and strain supply chains.
Housing, water, electricity and fuel costs led price increases at 3.6 percent annually, followed by transportation at 2.3 percent and food and beverages at 1.4 percent. The wholesale price index rose 4.2 percent year-on-year but declined marginally by 0.2 percent from August.
Why it matters
Stable inflation suggests price pressures remain contained, though geopolitical risks to shipping could test this stability in coming months.
Original reporting
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