Business | Markets

Food price rise lifts Saudi cost of living

The cost of living index (CLI) in Saudi Arabia increased by 0.3 per cent in February compared to January, according to a report released yesterday by the Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning.

  • By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
  • Published: 00:00 May 2, 2007
  • Gulf News

Riyadh: The cost of living index (CLI) in Saudi Arabia increased by 0.3 per cent in February compared to January, according to a report released yesterday by the Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning.

The report attributed the CLI's rise to the 3.3 per cent increase in prices of food and beverages, a main component of the index. The price of fresh vegetables rose 21.1 per cent (on an average) and fish by 5.1 per cent.

The report pointed out that another component - renovation, leasing, fuel and water - recorded an increase of 0.7 per cent. They were affected by increase in rents (0.9 per cent) and energy and power (0.6 per cent).

At the same time, the group comprising transport and communication recorded a decrease of four per cent, the report said.

The service and commodities group also recorded a decline of 0.8 per cent, textiles and shoes recorded a decline of 0.2 per cent and home furniture and education and entertainment both decreased by 0.1 per cent.

The report said the Saudi cost of living index, compared to February 2006, has jumped by three per cent. The report attributed this to the increase in prices of food and beverages (9.4 per cent), commodities and services (seven per cent), renovation, leasing, fuel and water (3.5 per cent), medical care (2.1 per cent), home furniture (0.8 per cent), textiles and shoes (1.7 per cent) and education and entertainment (0.1 per cent).

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