Inflation Saudi Arabia 2019
Average inflation: -2.1%
Inflation in 2019
There is deflation with consumer prices declining by 2.1%.
Peak and Trough
The highest inflation was in December at -0.2%. The lowest inflation was in January at -3.2%.
- Highest month
- December: -0.2%
- Lowest month
- January: -3.2%
- Difference
- 3.0 percentage points
- Months with data
- 12 of 12
Category Insights
The highest price increase was in Restaurants and hotels with an average of 3.2%. The lowest price increase was in Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with an average of -8.6%.
- Highest increase
- Restaurants and hotels: 3.2%
- Lowest increase
- Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: -8.6%
Historical Context
Inflation is 2.7 percentage points lower than the 5-year average of 0.6%.
- 5-year average
- 0.6%
- 10-year average
- 2.3%
- All-time high (2008)
- 9.9%
- All-time low (2019)
- -2.1%
Trend
Over the period 2017-2019, inflation shows a downward trend. Compared to 2018, inflation has fallen by 4.5 percentage points.
- Change vs. previous year
- -4.5 percentage points
- Largest monthly swing
- January: -6.3 percentage points
ECB Target
Inflation is 4.1 percentage points below the ECB target of 2.0%. Too low inflation may indicate economic weakness.
Purchasing Power
Due to deflation, purchasing power increases. Money becomes more valuable instead of less.
What you could buy for SAR 100 this year will cost approximately SAR 97.90 next year at this inflation rate.
Multi-year trend
Monthly figures 2019
Inflation by category
Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.
Month overview
| Month | Inflation | Difference vs. 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| January | -3.2% | -6.3 |
| February | -3.2% | -6.1 |
| March | -3.2% | -6.1 |
| April | -2.9% | -5.4 |
| May | -2.6% | -5.0 |
| June | -2.6% | -4.9 |
| July | -2.2% | -4.4 |
| August | -1.9% | -4.2 |
| September | -1.4% | -3.5 |
| October | -0.9% | -3.0 |
| November | -0.8% | -3.4 |
| December | -0.2% | -2.1 |
| Average | -2.1% |
Data source
Data from OECD. Last updated: 13/01/2026.