Saudi Arabia sees 3.8% rise in annual cost of living

The annual cost of living in Saudi Arabia has increased by 3.8 percent, according to the monthly report of the Kingdom’s Department of Statistics and Information.

filipinotimes.ae reports:

The survey, as determined on the basis of the increases registered among 10 consumer goods in comparison with the same period last year, revealed that the highest annual increases were recorded by the tobacco sector at 20.5 percent, reported Arab News.

It was followed by the transport sector with 9.4 percent; housing, water and electricity 7.5 percent; health sector, 6.9 percent; education, 5.4 percent; miscellaneous services at 4.3 percent; clothes and shoes, 4.2 percent, furnishings, two percent; and telecommunications with just over one percent.

Meanwhile, the sectors, which registered a decrease in their average costs were the culture and promotion sector with a drop of 0.1 percent; the hotel and restaurant sector registered a slight decrease of 1.6 percent; and the food and beverage sector with a 0.1 percent decline, said the news portal.

On monthly basis, the report also revealed a slight increase in the metric index for the cost of living between July and June at 0.1 percent, with the metric figure for July standing at 138.1, and June at 138.

Monthly price changes also occurred in the general services and goods sector, with an increase of 1.6 percent, followed by promotion and culture with 0.4 percent, housing and water with 0.3 percent and health with 0.2 percent., the Arab News report pointed out.

A number of consumer sectors, such as the food and beverage, furnishing and education sectors, maintained their prices and did not witness significant changes throughout the year, reported Alwatan.