On Thursday November 10, 2022, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed the results of Industrial Production Index (IPI) for the month of September 2022. The publication results showed that during September 2022, IPI increased by 15.7% compared to the same month of last year (September 2021). This increase can be attributed to the increase in mining, quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity and gas supply. According to the monthly publication results, the index of mining and quarrying increased by 14.2% in September 2022, compared to the same month of last year (September 2021). The manufacturing activity increased by 22% in September 2022, compared to the same month of last year (September 2021). The electricity and gas supply also increased by 5.5% in September 2022, compared to August 2022. The results of the report indicated that the growth rate has been positive since May 2021, continuing the upward trend during the following months, and the growth accelerated at the end of 2021 after a series of months in which growth rates declined in 2019 and 2020, partially affected by the global pandemic. It is noteworthy that GASTAT issues a number of Industry-related statistical products, including the Industrial Production Index (IPI), which is an economic indicator that reflects relative changes and evolution in the volume of industrial production quantities based on the data of the industrial production survey. It is implemented monthly and targets industrial establishments operating in the targeted activities, which are mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity and gas supply.

General Authority for Statistics has released on its official website www.stats.gov.sa the results of air and water traffic statistics publications at Saudi Arabia’s airports and ports during 2021. Total number of domestic and international flights (arriving and departing) in all airports in Saudi Arabia during 2021 reached nearly 497 thousand flights, with an increase by 43% compared to 2020, through which about 49 million passengers were transported, with an increase of 30% compared to 2020. The share of Saudi airlines was about 40 million passengers with an increase of 81.6% of total passengers, based on the publication of air traffic statistics. The number of arriving and departing international flights in 2021 went up by 20% compared to 2020. The number of arriving and departing domestic flights increased by 53% compared to 2020, according to the publication’s results. The number of passengers transported by arriving and departing domestic flights in 2021 increased by 45% compared to 2020. The number of passengers transported by arriving and departing international flights recorded an increase of 4% compared to 2020. Air freight traffic recorded an increase of 53% in 2021, compared to 2020, the publication noted. On the other hand, ship traffic in Saudi ports rose by 7% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to the water traffic statistics publication. Total number of passengers traveling through ports in Saudi Arabia increased by 33% compared to 2020 due to the increase in Jazan Port by 71% of total number of passengers traveling through all Saudi Arabi’s ports. Total volume of goods unloaded at all ports in Saudi Arabia reached 119.8 million tons in 2021. Total capacity of all Saudi ports was 601 million tons, whereas the percentage of goods unloaded at commercial ports in 2021 dropped by 18% compared to 2020. It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and research, analyzes data and information, and documents and archives all work of information and statistical data covering all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

On Monday October 31, 2022, General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released on its official website www.stats.gov.sa  the report of flash estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates for the third quarter of 2022. According to the estimates, real GDP increased by 8.6% during the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of last year 2021. The publication results indicated that the real GDP of oil activities achieved a positive growth of 14.5% during the third quarter of 2022, compared to the same period of last year 2021. Moreover, real GDP of non-oil activities recorded an increase by 5.9% compared the same period of last year. The publication results showed that the seasonally adjusted real GDP increased by 1.3% during the third quarter of 2022, compared to the second quarter of 2022. It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued on its official website www.stats.gov.sa today, 25 October 2022, the International Trade Publication of Saudi Arabia for August 2022. Value of merchandise exports in Saudi Arabia during August 2022 reached (134 billion riyals), compared to (90 billion riyals) in August 2021, with an increase of (44 billion riyals), a percentage of 49.1%, according to the data contained in this publication. Value of oil exports during August 2022 reached (107 billion riyals), compared to (67 billion riyals) during August 2021, with an increase of (40 billion riyals), a percentage of 60.2%. Value of non-oil exports (including re-exports) during August 2022 reached (27 billion riyals), compared to (23 billion riyals) during August 2021, with an increase of (4 billion riyals), a percentage of 16.6%, the publication results noted. Value of merchandise imports in Saudi Arabia during August 2022 reached (61 billion riyals), compared to (51 billion riyals) during August 2021, with an increase of (10 billion riyals), a percentage of 20.0%. GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released on Wednesday, 19 October 2022 the results of the Real Estate Price Index for Q3 of 2022, and published it on its official website www.stats.gov.sa  The Publication’s results indicated a 1.5% increase in the general real estate price index for Q3 of 2022, compared to the same quarter of the previous year 2021, mainly due to the increase in residential real estate prices of +2.5%.   According to the Publication’s results, the increase in residential land prices largely affected the increase in real estate prices in Q3 of 2022, compared to Q2 of 2021. Residential sector recorded a 2.5% increase affected by a 2.6% increase in the residential land plots prices, on an annual basis in Q3 of 2022, due to its high relative importance in the general index. Among other residential real estate prices, the prices of villas and apartments increased by 0.2% and 1.0% respectively, whereas houses decreased by 0.7%.  However, the prices of residential buildings stabilized and did not record any significant changes. Commercial sector recorded a 0.4% decrease, due to the decrease in the prices of commercial lands plots by -0.4%. The prices of galleries also decreased by 1.5%, while the prices of commercial centers increased by 0.2%. On the other hand, the commercial buildings prices stabilized and did not record any significant changes. Agriculture sector decreased by 0.6% affected by the decrease in agriculture land prices by -0.6%. It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

The ninth meeting of the GCC Permanent Committee for Statistical Affairs was held today in Jeddah, chaired by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, the President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in Saudi Arabia. The meeting aimed to strengthen joint efforts among GCC member states in the field of statistics.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a joint workshop was organized to enhance performance in terms of the availability and exchange of statistical data among member states and to advance the implementation of the strategic statistical plan.

During the meeting, the committee members discussed several topics aimed at promoting cooperation among GCC countries to advance the statistical sector. They emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to achieve strategic support and coordination in statistical activities. The agenda included a review of the progress in implementing recommendations from the previous meeting, continued study of statistical indicators to measure the implementation of Supreme Council decisions, and the importance of fostering knowledge development for staff in statistical agencies. The discussion also focused on enhancing skills, sharing expertise, activating joint cooperation mechanisms, and addressing global developments and common challenges facing statistical work across the GCC countries.

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP) and the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance the use of data in the development of economic policies. The MOU establishes a framework for data and knowledge sharing between the two partners, as well as sharing enhanced statistical, scientific, and economic analysis. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Eng. Ammar Nagadi, the Vice Minister of Economy and Planning, and Dr. Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT. Commenting on the MOU, His Excellency Faisal Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of GASTAT said “Both the Ministry and GASTAT are committed to supporting the public and private sector in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. A deep understanding of our data is key to ensure we are pulling the right levers to drive the Kingdom’s economic diversification journey and facilitating economic growth for all.” Alibrahim added “This agreement is a key milestone in our strong, and essential, partnership. It will enable us to publish a range of statistics, indicators, and products to support and empower policy and decision makers as well as assist the public in understanding policy priorities.” Dr. Fahad Aldosari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, said: “This agreement consolidates the framework of cooperation between the Ministry and GASTAT and ensures we are delivering access to high-quality and reliable data on which future decisions for developing procedures and policies that will help us achieve the ambitions of the Saudi Vision 2030”. The MOU comes as part of the efforts of MEP and GASTAT to support the development of statistical work and provide a new statistical dimension in the Kingdom, by benefiting from scientific and knowledge expertise in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.

On Thursday September 29, 2022, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued the Labor Market Publication for the second quarter of 2022, on its official website www.stats.gov.sa According to the Publication results, the Saudi unemployment rate has decreased to 9.7% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 10.1% in the first quarter of 2022. The total unemployment rate (for Saudis and non-Saudis) has decreased to 5.8% in the second quarter, compared to 6.0% in the first quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate for Saudi females has also decreased in the second quarter of 2022, reaching 19.3% compared to 20.2% in the previous quarter, and the unemployment rate for Saudi males has decreased in the second quarter of 2022, reaching 4.7% compared to 5.1% in the previous quarter. The labor force indicators in the second quarter of 2022 showed an increase in the total labor force participation rate (for Saudis and non-Saudis) as it has reached 60.8% compared to 60.4% in the first quarter of 2022.The Saudi labor force participation rate has also increased in the second quarter of 2022, reaching 51.8% compared to 50.1% in the previous quarter. The Labor Market Publication results for the second quarter of 2022 indicated an increase in the labor force participation rate for Saudi females in the second quarter of 2022, reaching 35.6% compared to 33.6% in the previous quarter. The labor force participation rate for Saudi males has also increased in the second quarter of 2022, reaching 67.5% compared to 66.0% in the previous quarter. GASTAT indicated that the Labor Market Publication's results depend on a household survey conducted by GASTAT that falls under the classification of (social statistics). In this survey, the information is collected through a sample representing households from the administrative regions in Saudi Arabia, and an electronic questionnaire containing a number of questions. This survey provides estimates and indicators related to the labor force of the working-age population of the age group (15 years and over) who settle in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also provides an estimate of the population (inside and outside the labor force), as well as calculating the most important labor market indicators, such as the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, and others.