Saudi Arabia’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.8% year-on-year in May 2026, compared with the same month a year earlier, according to official data released on Sunday.
The General Authority for Statistics said the annual increase was driven mainly by a 3.7% rise in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels costs, supported by a 4.7% increase in actual housing rents.
Higher prices in several other categories also contributed to the increase. Restaurant and hotel prices rose 1.7%, while transport costs increased 1.5%.
Prices in the personal care and miscellaneous goods and services category climbed 5.6%, largely due to a 20.0% jump in jewelry and watches prices.
The overall rise in inflation was partly offset by a 0.5% annual decline in furniture and household equipment prices, the statistics authority said.
Slight Monthly Price Changes
On a monthly basis, Saudi Arabia’s consumer price index edged up 0.2% in May from April. The increase was driven primarily by a 0.6% rise in transport prices, largely due to a 1.9% increase in passenger transport services.
Food and beverage prices rose 0.1% month-on-month, while housing and water costs increased 0.2%.
Meanwhile, prices in the personal care and miscellaneous goods and services category fell 0.2%, as did furniture and household equipment prices. Clothing and footwear prices also declined 0.1% from the previous month.
Housing and Transport Lead Inflation Drivers
The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels remained the largest contributor to annual inflation in May, accounting for 0.7 percentage points.
The personal care and miscellaneous goods and services category was the second-largest contributor, adding 0.3 percentage points to the annual inflation rate.
Transport and food and beverages each contributed 0.2 percentage points, while the remaining 0.3 percentage points came from other components of the consumer basket, according to the authority.
