15.03.202612:20:19UTC+00Saudi Arabia Inflation Rate Hits 17-Month Low

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate eased to 1.7% in February 2026, down from 1.8% in January, reaching its lowest level since September 2024. Price pressures moderated in several categories, including 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%).

At the same time, prices were unchanged for food and beverages (vs a 0.2% increase previously) and for clothing and footwear (vs a 0.5% gain in January). Prices declined further for furnishings and household equipment (-0.9% vs -0.3%).

By contrast, inflation picked up slightly in health (0.1% vs -0.1%) and accelerated for personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods (8.2% vs 7.9%), as well as for restaurants and hotels (1.9% vs 1.0%) and communication (1.1% vs 0.3%).

On a monthly basis, consumer prices were flat in February, following a 0.2% increase in January, which had been the largest monthly rise in three months.