Saudi Wholesale Inflation Eases in August

Saudi Arabia’s wholesale prices rose 4.6% year-on-year in August 2026, slowing from a 5.0% increase in the previous month. Price growth eased for agriculture and fishery products (4.8% vs 6.2% in July) and other transportable goods, excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment (8.2% vs 9.7%). At the same time, deflation persisted in ores and minerals (-1.8% vs -0.1%), while prices for food products, beverages, and tobacco, and textiles, became stagnant after declining 0.6% in the previous month. Meanwhile, prices increased further for metal products, machinery, and equipment (2.2% vs 1.5%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices fell 0.2% in August after remaining unchanged in July.

Saudi Arabia’s wholesale price inflation rose to 5.0% year-on-year in July 2026 from 4.8% in the previous month, the sharpest growth since August 2022. Prices increased for agriculture and fishery products (6.2% vs 4.0%) and other transportable goods, excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment (9.7% vs 9.3% in June), driven largely by higher costs for basic chemicals (66.7% vs 62.0%). At the same time, deflation slowed for ores and minerals (-0.1% vs -0.5%). In contrast, costs declined for food products, beverages, and tobacco, and textiles (-0.6% vs 0.2%), while price growth moderated for metal products, machinery, and equipment (1.5% vs 1.6%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices recorded a flat reading in July, easing from a 0.2% rise in the preceding period.

Saudi Arabia’s annual wholesale price inflation rose to 4.8% in June 2026 from 4.6% in May, marking the highest level since August 2022. Prices for other transportable goods, excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment increased further (9.3% vs 9.1% in May), mainly driven by higher costs for basic chemicals (62.0% vs 59.0%). Prices for metal products, machinery, and equipment also went up (1.6% vs 1.5%), while inflation for agricultural and fishery products accelerated (4.0% vs 3.0%). Prices for food products, beverages and tobacco, and textiles edged up 0.2% after falling 0.1% in the previous month. Meanwhile, prices for ores and mineral products continued to decrease, albeit at a slightly slower pace (-0.5% vs -0.6%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices increased 0.2%, easing from a 1.2% jump in May.