The prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, as well as food and beverages, caused an increase in the consumer price index in Saudi Arabia, during December, by 3.3 percent, compared to the same period the previous year.
A report issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Sunday revealed an increase in the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels in December, by 5.9 percent, while food and beverage prices recorded an increase of 4.2 percent.
Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, with a 25.5 percent weight of the consumer basket, rose 5.9 percent from a year earlier and were 0.9 percent higher compared with November, according to the same report.
Food and beverage prices fell 0.1 percent on a monthly basis, though they were still up 4.2 percent compared to December 2021.
The prices of the Miscellaneous Personal Goods and Services witnessed a decrease of 0.4 percent, as a result of a decrease in the costs of requesting a maid by 5.2 percent, as well as the clothing and shoes department by 1.4 percent, affected by the prices of ready-made clothes (2.4 percent).
The General Authority for Statistics also issued on Sunday the wholesale price index for December, which rose 3 percent compared to the same period in 2021.
GASTAT said the increase in the index was mainly due to the rise in the prices of food, beverages, tobacco and textile products by 7.5 percent.
