Prices of Saudi commodities rise in August 2019

Prices of 81 goods and services in Saudi Arabia rose year-on-year (YoY) in August 2019, while prices of 77 commodities dropped, official data issued by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed.

The classification of commodities was revised by GASTAT in June 2019, to include food and beverages, tobacco, clothes, construction materials, detergents, healthcare, maintenance and repair of personal means of transportation, fodder, hotels and apartments, and personal commodities and services.

Out of the 91 food products, prices of 44 items increased YoY for the month, while prices of other 43 products decreased.

Prices of Indian cardamom jumped the most by 34 percent YoY, while African lemon saw the biggest drop at 19 percent YoY.

Meanwhile, prices of 20 construction materials increased for the month, while 18 materials fell. The 10 mm-rebar dropped 5.62 percent YoY.

Prices of three fodder and livestock products increased in August. Other four items dropped in the same period.

For clothes, six commodities saw a decline, while four others increased.

Among the four personal services, two saw a rise in August.

Prices of three out of four detergents increased when compared to the previous year.

Elsewhere, prices of all healthcare services were up in August.

Prices of one service under the maintenance and repair of personal means of transportation decreased in August, with the other one rising YoY.

On the other hand, prices of all hotel and apartment services dropped on an annual basis in August.

Under tobacco, prices of Marlboro cigarettes edged up 0.28 percent per pack YoY