Saudi Arabia’s consumer price index (CPI) was up 3 percent in August compared to the same period last year, General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) data showed on Thursday.
The data showed an accelerating rise from a 2.7 percent increase in July, driven by transport and higher food and beverages prices.
Both sectors, which are the main drivers of inflation, rose 4 percent each in August, Gastat said in a statement.
Prices rose 0.4 percent on a monthly basis, compared to a 0.5 percent month-on-month rise in July.
“The monthly CPI was affected by the increase of food and beverage prices by 0.8 percent, mainly due to the increase in food prices by 0.9 percent,” Gastat said.
Meat prices, in particular, rose 6.7 percent causing the rise in food and beverages, which contribute 18.8 percent of the consumer basket.
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