Saudi Wholesale Prices Up 4.6% in August 2026

Wholesale prices in Saudi Arabia rose 4.6% year-on-year in August 2026 compared with August 2025, On a monthly basis, prices edged down 0.2% from July 2026, and the annual pace eased from 5.0% recorded in July.

The main driver of annual inflation was the "other transportable goods" category, which climbed 8.2% year-on-year. Within that group, basic chemical prices surged 51.4% compared with a year earlier, the sharpest increase across the index. However, on a monthly view the category actually cooled, falling 1.0%, with basic chemicals down 6.2% and glass and non-metallic products down 0.5% versus July.

Other segments also contributed to the yearly rise. Metal products, machinery and equipment prices increased 2.2% year-on-year, helped by basic metals up 5.4% and fabricated metal products up 10.5%. Agriculture and fishery product prices rose 4.8%, driven mainly by agricultural products, which advanced 9%. By contrast, ores and minerals fell 1.8%, reflecting a similar decline in stone and sand prices, while food products, beverages, tobacco and textiles were broadly stable.

The Wholesale Price Index tracks prices at the wholesale stage before goods reach retail shelves, so it is often watched as an early signal of cost pressures that can eventually reach consumers. Its 4.6% annual reading remains well above headline consumer inflation, which stood at around 1.8%. For residents and businesses in Riyadh, Jeddah and beyond, the numbers suggest input costs in industrial and agricultural sectors stayed elevated in August, even as the monthly softening points to some easing of pressure.

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