Riyadh – Mubasher: The wholesale price index in Saudi Arabia rose by 1.5% year-on-year (YoY) in February 2025, compared to the same month in 2024.

The General Authority for Statistics' monthly report, released on Sunday, revealed that this increase was primarily due to a 3.4% rise in the prices of other transportable goods, as well as a 3.9% rise in the prices of agricultural and fishing products.

Other transportable goods—excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment—experienced a 3.4% increase in prices, driven by an 8.2% rise in refined petroleum products and a 1.4% rise in rubber and plastics prices.

Prices of agricultural and fishery products also rose by 3.9%, driven by a 5.3% rise in agricultural product prices and a 0.8% rise in livestock product prices.

Prices of food, beverages, tobacco, and textiles rose slightly by 0.1%, driven by a 1.9% rise in prices of grain mills, starches, and other food products, and a 0.8% rise in beverages.

In contrast, prices of metal products, machinery, and equipment fell by 0.5%, due to a 0.1% decline in base metal prices and a 3.2% decline in general purpose equipment prices.

Raw materials and metals prices also declined by 1.9%, due to a 1.9% drop in stone and sand prices.

On a monthly basis, the wholesale price index decreased by 0.5% in February 2025, compared to January of the same year.

The report explained that this decline was due to a 1.4% decline in the prices of other transportable goods—excluding metal products, machinery, and equipment—as a result of an 11.4% decline in the prices of basic chemicals, as well as a 0.3% decline in the prices of rubber and plastics.

Prices of metal products, machinery, and equipment also fell by 0.1%, driven by a 0.1% decline in transportation equipment prices and a 0.9% decline in medical equipment prices.

Prices of food, beverages, tobacco, and textiles also fell by 0.1%, driven by a 0.4% decline in prices of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and oils, and a 0.1% decline in dairy prices.

Raw materials and metals prices also declined by 0.8%, affected by a 0.8% decline in stone and sand prices.

In contrast, prices of agricultural and fishery products recorded a monthly increase of 1.6%, supported by a 1.9% rise in agricultural product prices and a 0.9% rise in livestock product prices.