RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed that in April 2022, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.3% compared to April 2021, up from 2.0% in March 2022. The rise of the CPI resulted mainly from higher prices of transport (+4.6%) and food and beverages (+4.3%).

According to the Consumer Price Index for April 2022, released Sunday by GASTAT, the transport prices increased by 4.6%, due to the increase in gasoline prices by 9.5%, as well as Purchase of Vehicles prices (+4.1%).

Food and beverages prices increased by 4.3%, mainly due to the increase in food prices by 4.6%, in particular, meat prices (+3.5%) and vegetable prices (13.5%).

Personal Goods and Services prices increased by 2.8%, mainly resulting from an increase in prices of jewelry, clocks and watches (+5.2%).

Education prices increased by 6.2%, mainly resulting from an increase in secondary education fees by 19.2%. Restaurants and hotels prices increased by 3.2%, due to an increase by 2.8% in catering services prices.

Meanwhile, in April 2022, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased by 10.7% compared to the same month in 2021, down from 12.1% in March. The increase resulted mainly from the increase in other transportable goods prices (+12.5%) that have a relatively high weight in the index.

According to GASTAT, other transportable goods increased by 12.5%, due to the increase of basic chemicals prices by 45.3%, and refined petroleum products prices by 12.2%, due to their weight in the index.

Metal products, machinery and equipment prices increased by 8.8%, due to higher prices of basic metals (16.3%), and general-purpose machinery prices (11.9%).

Agriculture and fishery products prices increased by 18.7%, which resulted mainly from higher prices of agricultural products (22.2%), and live animals and animal products (12.4%).

Food products, beverages, tobacco and textiles prices increased by 7.1%, as a result of the increase in the prices of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, oils and fats (17.4%). Ores and minerals prices went up by 6.1%, due to the increase in stones and sand prices (6.1%). — SPA