Saudi Arabia March Inflation Up 1.8%

The annual inflation rate in Saudi Arabia edged up to 1.8% in March 2026 from a seventeen-month low of 1.7% in the previous month. The increase was mainly driven by higher housing and utility costs, up 3.9% (vs 4.1% in February), due to a 4.8% increase (vs 5.1%) in actual rents. Transport prices also rose 0.9% (vs 1.9%), reflecting a 5.5% gain (vs 5.6%) in passenger transport services, while restaurant and accommodation services increased 2.2% (vs 1.9%). Additionally, inflation increased for insurance and financial services (2.1% vs 1%) and recreation, sport and culture (2% vs 1.8%), while it remained steady for personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (at 8.2%). In contrast, costs declined for clothing and footwear (-0.1% vs 0%) and furnishings, household equipment and maintenance (-0.5% vs -0.9%). Monthly, consumer prices rose by 0.3% in March, the sharpest since October 2025, after showing no growth in the preceding period.

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate edged down to 1.7% in February 2026 from 1.8% in the prior month, marking the lowest level since September 2024. Price pressures eased for housing and utilities (4.1% vs 4.2% in January), insurance and financial services (1.0% vs 3.3%), recreation and culture (1.0% vs 2.3%), tobacco (0.4% vs 0.7%), education (1.4% vs 1.6%), and transport (1.4% vs 1.5%). Meanwhile, prices were flat for food and drinks (vs 0.2% previously), and clothing and footwear (vs a 0.5% gain in January). Simultaneously, prices fell further for furnishings and household equipment (-0.9% vs -0.3%). On the other hand, inflation rebounded slightly in health (0.1% vs -0.1%) and accelerated for personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods (8.2% vs 7.9%), restaurants and hotels (1.9% vs 1.0%), and communication (1.1% vs 0.3%). Monthly, consumer prices were unchanged, following a 0.2% increase in January, which had been the largest rise in three months.

The annual inflation rate in Saudi Arabia fell to 1.8% in January 2026 from 2.1% in the previous month, falling short of market expectations of 2.0% and marking the lowest reading since September 2024. Price growth slowed for insurance and financial services (3.3% vs 4.1% in December), recreation and culture (2.3% vs 2.4%), food and drinks (0.2% vs 1.3%), and tobacco (0.7% vs 1.0%). In addition, cost fell for furnishings and household equipment (-0.3% vs 0.1%) and health (-0.1% vs 0.2%). On the other hand, inflation held steady for transport (at 1.5%) while edged higher for housing, utilities (4.2% vs 4.1%), restaurants and accommodation (1.0% vs 0.9%), clothing (0.5% vs 0.4%), communication (0.3% vs 0.2%), and education (1.6% vs 1.5%). Meanwhile, prices of personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous items accelerated (7.9% vs 7.0%). Monthly consumer prices rose 0.2%, following 0.1% increases in November and December and pointing to the highest level in three months.