Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate remained at 1.8% in August 2026, unchanged for the previous three months and matching market expectations. Transport inflation accelerated to 2.0% from 1.4% in July, while recreation, sport and culture rose to 2.8% from 2.4%, and personal care, social protection and miscellaneous costs increased to 3.5% from 2.9%. Food and beverage prices remained higher year-on-year at 1.4%, easing from 1.5%, while housing and utilities inflation slowed to 3.9% from 4.2%. Deflation deepened for clothing and footwear to -0.5% from -0.4%, and for furnishings, household equipment and maintenance to -0.6% from -0.5%. Consumer prices increased 0.1% month on month in August, the softest rise since December and down from 0.2% in the preceding period.