Saudi Arabia Wholesale Inflation Hits 15-Month High

Saudi Arabia’s annual wholesale price inflation dropped to 2.9% in January 2026 from December's 15-month high of 3.1%. Cost pressures eased for food products, beverages and tobacco, and textiles (0.3% vs 0.5% in December), as well as for other transportable goods excluding metal products, machinery and equipment (4.9% vs 5.7%). Meanwhile, prices of ores and minerals remained subdued, though the pace of decline softened (-0.1% vs -1.0%). In contrast, inflation accelerated for agriculture and fishery products (4.2% vs 3.6%) and for metal products, machinery and equipment (1.2% vs 1.1%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices increased by 1.5%, reversing a 1.0% decline in December.

Saudi Arabia’s annual wholesale price inflation climbed to 3.1% in December 2025 from 2.3% in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since September 2024, as costs increased for agriculture and fishery products (3.6% vs 2.3% in November), other transportable goods, except metal products, machinery and equipment (5.7% vs 4.3%), and metal products, machinery and equipment (1.1% vs 0.8%). Meanwhile, price eased for food products, beverages, and tobacco and textiles (0.2% vs 0.5%), while prices for ores and minerals fell further (-1% vs -0.8%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices declined by 1% in December, following a 0.3% drop in the prior month.

The annual wholesale price inflation in Saudi Arabia eased to 2.3% in November 2025 from a thirteen-month high of 2.9% in the previous month. The main downward pressure came from slower price increases for agriculture and fishery products (2.3% vs 4.6% in October) and other transportable goods, except metal products, machinery and equipment (4.3% vs 5.4%). Additionally, costs declined at a faster pace for ores and minerals (-0.8% vs -0.6%). On the other hand, price growth accelerated for metal products, machinery and equipment (0.8% vs 0.5%), while it remained steady for food products, beverages and tobacco and textiles (at 0.5%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices fell by 0.3% in November, reversing a 0.5% increase in the preceding period.