Saudi Consumer Inflation Rises to 1.9% in September; Wholesale Price Growth Eases

04:30 AM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Saudi Arabia's annual consumer inflation accelerated to 1.9% in September, missing market expectations, while the kingdom's wholesale price growth moderated, according to economic data published Thursday. The latest reading follows a 1.8% rise in the previous month and is behind the consensus estimate of 2.1% growth, while still marking the fastest increase since December 2025. The country's General Authority for Statistics said the higher prices were driven by a 3.6% jump in housing, fuel and utility expenses, followed by increases of 2.3% in transportation and 1.4% in food and beverages. Month on month, consumer prices in the country held steady, against the previous and expected 0.1% uptick. Meanwhile, annual wholesale price inflation in Saudi Arabia eased to 4.2% in September from a revised 5% growth in the prior month, marking the lowest level since January. All main sections contributed to the increase, led by a 7.1% boost in other transportable goods, excluding metals, machinery, and equipment, and a 4.4% rise in agriculture and fisheries. The kingdom's monthly wholesale prices edged down by 0.2%, after a revised 1.9% decline in August. The change was attributed to a 0.4% decrease in the price of other transportable goods and a 0.1% dip in metal products and equipment and in food products. In a separate same-day release, the statistics agency also reported that annual producer price growth came in at 5.1% in August, following a 5.3% rise a month ago, due to higher costs in manufacturing, utilities and water and waste management services. On a monthly basis, the producer price index "recorded relative stability," after a revised 2.7% decline in July, amid a decrease in manufacturing prices counterbalanced by increases in the cost of refined petroleum products and utilities.