Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate held steady at 2% in February 2025, maintaining the same rate as the previous year, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
The report highlights that Saudi Arabia continues to have one of the lowest inflation rates among G20 nations. The rise was mainly driven by a 7.1% increase in housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel costs, with housing rents surging by 8.5%.
Key contributors to the inflation rate include:
- Food and beverages: Up by 1%, driven by a 3.7% rise in meat and poultry prices.
- Personal goods and services: Up by 3.9%, due to a 26.7% increase in watches, jewelry, and antiques.
- Restaurants and hotels: Up by 0.8%, influenced by a 2.4% rise in hotel service prices.
- Education sector: Up by 0.4%, driven by a 4.3% rise in higher education fees.
However, transportation costs fell by 1.5%, while furniture and home furnishings declined by 2.5%, and clothing and footwear dropped by 1%.
On a monthly basis, inflation rose by 0.2% in February compared to January 2025, mainly due to a 0.4% rise in housing rents and a 0.7% increase in personal goods and services.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks price changes for a basket of 490 items, reflects data collected through field visits to points of sale.
