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The General Authority for Statistics released its Consumer Price Index data for September on October 15, recording an annual rise of 1.9 percent in consumer prices. This marked a modest acceleration from the 1.8 percent rate that had held steady for the four preceding months. The CPI index stood at 105.8, compared with 103.8 in September 2025, according to the authority.
Housing costs provided the largest boost to the annual figure, with the category for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels advancing 3.6 percent year on year and contributing 0.7 percentage points to the overall rate. Actual rental prices for housing increased 3.5 percent, driving much of that gain, GASTAT figures show. Transport prices rose 2.3 percent while food and beverage costs were up 1.4 percent, each adding 0.3 percentage points to the annual inflation measure.
Several other divisions posted annual increases in September, the authority reported. Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services climbed 3.3 percent, recreation, sport and culture gained 2.5 percent, insurance and financial services advanced 2.0 percent, and restaurants and accommodation services rose 1.9 percent. Offsetting movements came in clothing and footwear, which fell 0.4 percent, and furnishings, household equipment and maintenance, down 0.5 percent.
On a monthly basis consumer prices showed no change from August, coming in below forecasts for a 0.1 percent increase, Trading Economics data indicated. The reading follows a 0.1 percent monthly gain in August. Freight analytics company Xeneta data compiled by AGBI showed shipping costs for a 40-foot container from China to Jeddah had more than tripled to over $10,000 by August amid Red Sea disruptions from Houthi actions, yet the flat monthly CPI suggests such pressures have not yet fed significantly into consumer prices.
The September outcome represented the highest annual inflation rate since December 2025, according to economic compilations from Trading Economics. Saudi inflation has averaged 2.02 percent since the year 2000, with a peak of 11.1 percent in 2008 and a trough of minus 5 percent in 2018, that platform’s historical series shows. Econometric models project the rate to remain around 1.9 to 2.0 percent over the coming two years.
Saudi authorities have maintained a range of measures to support price stability as the kingdom advances its economic diversification agenda. The latest figures come as the country navigates external challenges, with the contained inflation providing a steady backdrop for consumer spending and investment planning. GASTAT updates its CPI series using an updated methodology introduced in August 2025.
