Residential rents continued to play the most prominent role in driving inflation rates in Saudi Arabia during November 2025, compared to the same period last year, to top the list of factors affecting the rise in prices.

Data from the General Authority for Statistics (GAS), within the Consumer Price Index (CPI) bulletin for the month of November, showed that the prices of housing, water, electricity, and utilities increased. <Data from the General Authority for Statistics, within the Consumer Price Index (CPI) bulletin for November, showed that prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded an increase of 4.3% year-on-year, driven by an increase in prices of actual residential rents by 5.4%, as the rents paid by renters for their primary residences increased by the same percentage.

In the rest of the sectors, prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels increased by 4.4%. <In other sectors, food and beverage prices increased by 1.3%, influenced by a 1.6% increase in fresh, chilled and frozen meat prices. The transportation section also recorded an increase of 1.5%, as prices of passenger transportation services rose by 6.4%.

The personal care section recorded an increase of 1.5%.

Personal care, social protection and other goods and services recorded a remarkable increase of 6.6%, driven by a 19.9% rise in prices of other personal effects, along with a 21.6% jump in prices of jewelry and watches.

Other personal care, social protection and other goods and services recorded a remarkable increase of 6.6%. The Insurance and Financial Services section increased by 5.1%, driven by an 8.4% increase in insurance group prices, while the Leisure, Sports and Culture section recorded growth of 1.3%, supported by a 2.1% increase in vacation package prices.

On the other hand, some sections saw a decline in prices. <On the other hand, some sections saw a decline in price levels, with prices of furniture, household appliances and regular home maintenance decreasing by 0.3%, influenced by a 3.3% decline in prices of furniture, furnishings and carpets. Prices of restaurants and accommodation services declined by 0.5%, as a result of a 2.3% drop in prices of accommodation services.

The data showed that the annual inflation rate in the Kingdom slowed slightly last November to 1.9%, after the consumer price index ranged between 2.1% and 2.3% during most months of the year, mainly influenced by rising housing costs.

The data showed that the annual inflation rate in the Kingdom slowed slightly last November to 1.9%, after the consumer price index ranged between 2.1% and 2.3% during most months of the year, mainly influenced by rising housing costs.

In an effort to curb rental pressures, the General Real Estate Authority issued new regulations in September to suspend annual rent increases for residential and commercial properties located within the boundaries of Riyadh for five years.

In September, the General Real Estate Authority issued new regulations to suspend annual rent increases for residential and commercial properties located within the boundaries of Riyadh for five years.