Saudi Wholesale Prices Up 4.6% in August 2026

Wholesale prices in Saudi Arabia rose 4.6% in August 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, On a monthly basis, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) edged down 0.2% versus July 2026.

The WPI tracks price movements of goods at the pre-retail stage for a fixed basket, making it distinct from the Consumer Price Index, which measures the prices households actually pay. The reading forms part of the Kingdom's monthly inflation and price statistics.

The largest annual increase came from the category of other transportable goods — excluding metal products, machinery and equipment — which climbed 8.2%. Within the wider index, basic chemicals recorded a sharp annual jump of 51.4%.

Prices of metal products, machinery and equipment rose 2.2% year-on-year, supported by a 5.4% gain in basic metals and a 10.5% increase in fabricated metal products. Agriculture and fishery products advanced 4.8%, driven mainly by a 9% rise in agricultural products.

Not all categories rose. Ores and minerals prices declined 1.8% year-on-year, reflecting a similar drop in stone and sand prices. Meanwhile, food products, beverages, tobacco and textiles showed no significant change over the year.

Why it matters

Wholesale prices sit early in the supply chain, so their movements can eventually filter through to businesses and, in some cases, to the shelves and services residents and expats use every day. Watching the WPI alongside consumer inflation gives a fuller picture of cost pressures across the Kingdom's economy as it advances under رؤية السعودية 2030 monitoring frameworks.

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