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Annual Saudi Inflation Rate Rises 2.7% in July

Prices of food and beverages rise in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prices of food and beverages rise in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Annual Saudi Inflation Rate Rises 2.7% in July

Prices of food and beverages rise in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prices of food and beverages rise in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released on Monday the results of the Saudi Consumer Price Index and Wholesale Price Index for July 2022.

On its official website, GASTAT said that the consumer price index rose 2.7% in July from a year earlier, increasing from 2.3% in June.

The main driver of CPI inflation was a 3.9% increase in prices of food and beverages and 3.6% in transport mainly due to a 4.2% increase in the prices of vehicles.

Food and beverage prices increased by 3.9%, mainly due to food prices (4.2%), and meat prices (5.1%).

The prices of personal goods and services increased by 2.1%, mainly impacted by a 22.0% price rise in wedding hall rentals.

Moreover and due to the increase in prices of catering services by 6.3%, the prices in restaurants and hotels increased by 6.3%.

Education increased by 5.7%, and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices increased by 2.0%, as a result of the increase in housing rentals by 2.1%.

The general wholesale price index for the month of July 2022 increased by 6.8%, compared to 2021. The increase came mainly due to a 5% increase in the price of metal products, machinery, and equipment.

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Saudi Arabia’s Private Sector Ends 2024 with Strongest Sales Growth

 The Saudi capital, Riyadh (AFP)
 The Saudi capital, Riyadh (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia’s Private Sector Ends 2024 with Strongest Sales Growth

 The Saudi capital, Riyadh (AFP)
 The Saudi capital, Riyadh (AFP)

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector concluded 2024 on a high note, with significant increases in sales and business activity fueled by robust domestic and international demand.
The Kingdom’s non-oil GDP is expected to grow by over 4% in both 2024 and 2025, supported by notable improvements in business conditions, according to Riyad Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report.
Despite inflationary challenges, the Riyad Bank PMI recorded 58.4 points in December, reflecting strong and accelerated economic recovery, albeit slightly lower than November’s 59.0 points.
The solid performance highlights improvements across non-oil sectors, with new business activity in December growing at its fastest pace in 12 months. This growth reflects rising domestic and global demand. Renewed marketing efforts and strong customer demand encouraged companies to boost production and expand operations, particularly in wholesale and retail.
The PMI has remained above the neutral threshold of 50.0 points since September 2020, signaling continuous expansion in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economic activity.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) previously projected sustained momentum in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil reforms, estimating non-oil GDP growth for 2024 at between 3.9% and 4.4%. The IMF noted that growth could reach 8% if reform strategies are fully implemented.
Expansion in International Markets
A surge in exports was among the key factors driving non-oil economic growth in Saudi Arabia. December saw the largest increase in export orders in 17 months, underscoring the success of Saudi policies in opening new markets and fostering strong international trade relationships, supported by ongoing product innovation.
Higher domestic and international demand boosted production levels in December. Companies also worked to enhance operational efficiency, leading to a notable increase in inventory. Purchasing activity accelerated to its highest level in nine months, reflecting the sector’s ability to effectively meet rising demand.
Cost Pressures on Production
Despite significant growth in production and sales, the sector continues to face challenges related to sharp inflation in input costs, driven by heightened demand for raw materials. These pressures have led to higher product prices, although some companies opted to reduce prices to remain competitive and address elevated inventory levels.
Meanwhile, wage cost increases were less pronounced, helping mitigate economic pressures related to salaries.
Future Outlook
Dr. Naif Al-Ghaith, Chief Economist at Riyad Bank, highlighted the positive end to 2024 for the Kingdom’s non-oil private sector, reflecting the progress achieved under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. He noted that the PMI score of 58.4 points demonstrates the sector’s resilience and ongoing expansion.
Al-Ghaith expects non-oil GDP to grow by over 4% in 2024 and 2025, driven by improved business conditions and rising new orders, signaling increased market confidence and demand. Elevated domestic demand and export growth have pushed total sales to their highest level in a year. This, in turn, has led to strong increases in business activity and inventory levels, demonstrating the sector’s ability to meet and capitalize on excess demand, he underlined.