New data released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that residential rents were the main driver of rising inflation in Saudi Arabia during April 2025, compared to the same month of 2024.
New data released by The General Authority for Statistics showed that residential rents were the main driver of rising inflation rates in the Kingdom in April 2025, compared to the same month of 2024.
Housing, water and electricity
The data revealed that the housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel section rose by 6.8%, driven by a notable increase in the group of rents paid for housing which recorded a growth of 8.1%, as a result of a significant rise in apartment rental prices by 11.9%. This increase comes in light of the high relative weight of the housing section in the consumer basket, which stands at 25.5%, making it the largest contributor to the increase in the annual inflation rate for the month.
<Food and beverage prices rose by 2.2%, driven by a 9.4% increase in vegetable prices. Prices of miscellaneous personal goods and services increased by 3.5%, as a result of a 21.9% increase in the price of jewelry, watches and antiques.
Miscellaneous personal goods and services prices increased by 3.5%.
Restaurants and hotels prices increased by 2%, as a result of catering services prices rising by the same amount, while education increased by 1.3% as non-financial post-secondary education fees increased by 5.6%.
The education section rose by 1.3% due to an increase in non-financial post-secondary education fees by 5.6%.
Furniture and carpet prices fell
On the other hand, some sections recorded a decrease in prices, most notably the home furnishing and fittings section, which decreased by 1.8%, affected by a decrease in the prices of furniture, carpets and floor coverings by 3.5%. Clothing and footwear fell by 1.2% due to a 2.1% drop in ready-to-wear prices. Transportation prices decreased by 1% as a result of a 1.8% decline in vehicle purchase prices. The annual inflation rate in the Kingdom during April 2025 reached 2.3%, compared to the same month of the previous year, thus continuing to be among the lowest levels among G20 countries, reflecting relative stability in prices despite inflationary pressures in some sectors.
In April 2025, the annual inflation rate in the Kingdom reached 2.3%, compared to the same month of the previous year.
