Saudi inflation edges up to 1.9% even as monthly prices stay flat

Saudi consumer prices were 1.9% higher in September than a year earlier, up from 1.8% in August, while the overall price index was unchanged from the prior month. The two measures tell different parts of the story: transport and restaurant and accommodation costs were rising faster than a year earlier, helping push up the annual rate. But small monthly declines in those categories, alongside increases elsewhere, offset each other in September and left the total unchanged. Housing remained the biggest source of inflation, though its annual increase slowed to 3.6%, suggesting price pressure is spreading beyond rents without yet producing a sharp monthly jump.