Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate fell to 1.7% in February 2026 compared to January, reaching its lowest level in a whole year.
According to data from the General Authority for Statistics, the cost of living index recorded an increase to 104.5 points during February (based on the 2023 base year) compared to 102.7 points during the same period in 2025.
The Authority had developed a mechanism for collecting and calculating the Consumer Price Index in accordance with best international practices in order to achieve greater comprehensiveness and accuracy.
The Authority updated the reference year for the index to be 2023, along with updating the items and weights of the consumer price basket, in addition to expanding the geographical coverage to include all regions.
The level of inflation is measured by the percentage change in the cost of living between the current period and the same corresponding period of the previous year, and its decrease or increase is known by comparing it with the previous month.
The authority attributed the rise in the cost of living index to the increase in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel prices by 4.1%, transportation prices by 1.4%, and restaurant and accommodation prices by 1.9%.
She said that housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel prices were affected by a 5.1% increase in the actual rental prices of housing.
All regions recorded an increase in the inflation rate during February 2026 compared to January, except for the Tabuk region.
The Riyadh region topped the list of regions in terms of inflation rate at 3.32%, followed by the Northern Borders region at 2.43%, while the Eastern region had the lowest rate at 0.16%.
The inflation rate in Saudi Arabia decreased to 1.7% in February 2026 compared to last January, marking the lowest level in a full year.
According to data from the General Authority for Statistics, the consumer price index rose to 104.5 points in February (based on the year 2023) compared to 102.7 points during the same period in 2025.
The authority had developed a mechanism for collecting and calculating the consumer price index according to the best international practices to achieve greater comprehensiveness and accuracy.
The authority updated the reference year for the index to be 2023, along with updating the items and weights of the consumer price basket, in addition to expanding the geographical coverage to include all regions.
The level of inflation is measured by the percentage change in the cost of living between the current period and the same period of the previous year, and its decrease is known by comparing it with the previous month.
The authority attributed the rise in the consumer price index to the increase in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices by 4.1%, transportation prices by 1.4%, and restaurant and accommodation service prices by 1.9%.
It stated that the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels were affected by the increase in the actual rental prices for housing by 5.1%.
All regions recorded an increase in the inflation rate during February 2026 compared to January, except for the Tabuk region.
The Riyadh region topped the areas in terms of inflation rate at 3.32%, followed by the Northern Borders at 2.43%, while the Eastern region had the lowest rate at 0.16%.
* Inflation in Saudi Arabia:
The lowest in a year
– 104.5 points in February
– 3.32% inflation in Riyadh
– The Eastern region had the lowest at 0.16%
