Saudi’s average annual inflation rate rises to 2.5% in 2022

16/01/2023 Argaam Special

Saudi’s average annual inflation rate rises to 2.5% in 2022

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Saudi Arabia’s average inflation rate grew to 2.5% year-on-year (YoY) in 2022, according to recent data by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). 

 

The cost-of-living index for 2022 rose to 106.97 points, according to the base year 2018, compared to 104.38 points the year before. 

  

Saudi Inflation Rate during 2021 and 2022 

Month 

2021 

2022 

Change 

January 

104.00 

105.22 

1.2% 

February 

103.87 

105.55 

1.6% 

March 

103.72 

105.84 

2.0% 

April 

103.90 

106.29 

2.3% 

May 

104.09 

106.42 

2.2% 

June 

104.25 

106.66 

2.3% 

July 

104.41 

107.20 

2.7% 

August 

104.48 

107.61 

3.0% 

September 

104.69 

107.90 

3.1% 

October 

104.95 

108.11 

3.0% 

November 

105.17 

108.25 

2.9% 

December 

105.06 

108.53 

3.3% 

Annual Average 

104.38 

106.97 

2.5% 

 

The increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was mainly driven by a 3.7% year-on-year (YoY) rise in the average prices of food and beverage and a 4.1% increase in transportation, which is the biggest upward pressure on inflation. 

 

 

Prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other types of fuel increased by 1.8%, affected by rising housing rents by 2%. 

 

On the other hand, prices of clothing and footwear retreated 1.3%, affected by a 0.9% decrease in clothing prices. Similarly, prices of tobacco went down 0.1%. 

 

The table below illustrates the change in the CPI comparison YoY in 2022: 

  

CPI YoY Comparison in 2022 

Main Groups 

Variation (%) 

Education 

+5.4% 

Restaurants & Hotels 

+5.1% 

Transport 

+4.1% 

Food & Beverages  

 +3.7% 

Recreation & Culture 

+2.7% 

Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels 

+1.8% 

Personal Goods & Services 

+1.6% 

Furniture, Household Equipment and Maintenance 

+1.3% 

Healthcare 

+0.4% 

Communication 

+0.4% 

Tobacco 

(0.1%) 

Clothing & Footwear 

(1.3%) 

 

The CPI reflects price changes of a fixed basket of goods and services that includes 490 items. The items were chosen based on the results of the Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted in 2018. 

 

  

Prices are collected through the point of sale (POS) field visits. 

  

Relative Importance of Major Sections

Expenditure Groups (2018) 

(%) 

General Index 

100.0% 

Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels 

25.50% 

Food & Beverages 

18.78% 

Transport 

13.05% 

Personal Goods & Services 

12.57% 

Furnishing, Household Equipment and Maintenance 

6.74% 

Communication 

5.62% 

Restaurants & Hotels 

5.60% 

Clothes & Footwear 

4.20% 

Recreation & Culture 

3.06% 

Education 

2.87% 

Healthcare 

1.43% 

Tobacco 

0.60% 

 
 

 

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