Saudi annual inflation slips

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia's Central Department of Statistics released the July consumer price data on Monday, showing inflation at its lowest level this year. Transport costs jumped 9.4 percent from a year earlier after the government raised gasoline prices in late December as an austerity measure. Prices of housing and utilities rose 7.5 percent after utility fees were raised in December, but food and beverage prices edged down 0.1 percent.— Reuters