“GASTAT” Releases the Results of the Household Energy Survey for 2018 The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the results of the “Household Energy Survey (2018)” on its official website www.stats.gov.sa. It is a field survey that collects household energy data from a sample of households covering all 13 administrative regions across the Kingdom.  This data can calculate many estimates and indicators about energy consumption in the domestic sector. The Household Energy survey aims at providing data related to the housing characteristics such as the type of housing, its components, the areas that are air-conditioned and heated, the impact of economic, social and geographical variables on energy consumption, household uses of fuel of all kinds to supplement the primary consumption coverage of various energy forms, which contributes to the preparation of energy balance, identifying patterns of energy consumption and the forms of energy used in the domestics sector. The results of the household energy survey showed that (100%) of the households use electricity in their houses. (99.85%) of their houses are connected to the public electricity network. (0.11%) use a private network as a source for electricity, while (0.04%) use a generator as a source of electricity. The results also showed that the percentage of households using solar energy at homes reached (1.45%). The results also showed that the percentage of households using an independent electric meter reached (84.33%), while (15.67%) are using an electric meter shared with other houses, whereas (15.38%) use power regulator at home. Regarding the use of fuel, the results showed that about (90.72%) of households use gas as the main fuel for cooking, while (8.74%) of households use electricity for cooking. In addition, (8.22%) of households use (wood, coal and agricultural waste) at home for heating and cooking. Regarding the patterns and behavior of households in the rationalization of power consumption, the results showed that (59.84%) of households are interested in 65cutting expenses or rationalization of power consumption. It also showed that (35.75%) of the households are likely interested in power consumption rationalization while only (4.41%) of the households are not interested at all in cutting expenses or rationalizing power consumption. The results showed that (29.35%) of the households have power savers at their houses while (70.65%) of households don’t have power savers to rationalize consumption Furthermore, the results of the Household Energy Survey showed that the total consumption of household fuel (fuel oil), kerosene and LPG reached more than 1 billion liters (1,023,585,906) in all regions of the Kingdom. The volume of consumption of diesel (fuel oil) reached about (3,519,261) three million five hundred thousand liters, which represents about (0.34%) total consumption volume, while the consumption of gas (kerosene) reached more than nineteen million L (19,691,996) representing about 1.92% of the total volume of consumption. The volume of consumption of gas (LPG) reached about one billion liters (1,000,374,649) in 2018, representing (97.74%) of the total volume of consumption. The results of the Household Energy Survey showed that (35.14%) of households in the Kingdom spend less than 5% of their income on electricity and other sources of fuel, while (43.08%) of the households spend between (5-10%) on energy, while (15.76%) of households spend between (11-15%) on energy. (4.01%) of households spend between (16-20%) of their income on energy and (2%) Spends more than (20%) of its income on electricity and other fuel sources. It is worth mentioning that the Household Energy Survey of 2018 is the second survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics on an annual basis.

Within GASTAT efforts to raise statistical awareness among all society classes. GASTAT concludes its awareness week in Aseer region As part of its plan to raise statistical awareness among all society classes, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) concluded the statistical week in Aseer region. The statistical week included the meeting of His Excellency the president of GASTAT, Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi with businessmen and the board members of Abha Chamber. During the meeting, they discussed the role of the private sector in the statistical process, in addition to the statistical products that are related to Aseer region. “The Smart Statistician” exhibition has been also held during the statistical week in cooperation with the General Administration of Education in Aseer region. The exhibition events took place in “ Aseer’s Educational Center”  during the period 17-21 Rabi Al Awal 1440H, with the participation of more than 35 schools. The exhibition aims to clarify the role of statistics in the student life.  In addition, it aims to explain the statistical concepts and raising the level of students’ awareness. Moreover, it presents the statistical process steps and stages in a simple and scientific way, and enhances the student’s realization of the statistician role. However, the exhibition demonstrates the impact of data accuracy (data provided by the household head) on development, as the student is considered an effective method in raising households’ awareness. It is worth mentioning that the student journey inside the exhibition starts by moving between the different sections that provide students with scientific information in an entertainment and attractive way. The sections include an identification of statistics, the difference between statistics and mathematics, the role of the General Authority for Statistics, how students and households are relating to the authority work, and how statistical researches are implemented on the field through simulating the process by students, where a student takes the role of the “statistician” when he visits a household to fill an electronic form designed especially for the research. However, many awareness lectures were held in Khamis Mushait governorate during this week an attended by a number of the governorate schools’ students. On the other hand, King Khalid University hosted the event of (We share you your academic journey) during the same period. This event targets university students, faculty members, and all university staff. It presents GASTAT statistical products and services, and explains how to use them for the purpose of conducting academic studies and research.

GASTAT: Consumer Price Index (CPI) Decreases and Annual Index Rises in October,2018 General Authority for Statistics GASTAT released its monthly report of CPI in Saudi Arabia for October. The report was published on its official website www.stats.gov.sa . The Consumer Price Index CPI decreased 0.3% in October compared to the previous month (September 2018). GASTAT report showed that the Consumer Price Index CPI in Saudi Arabia decreased to (106.8) Index Points in October from (107.1) in September of 2018 with 0.3% change. On the other hand, the report attributed the monthly decline of the index to the declines of the eight sections composing it, which are: housing, water, electricity and gas section with 0.8% , home furnishing and equipment section with 0.4%, clothing and shoes section with 0.3%, transportation section with 0.3%, personal goods and services section with 0.2%, health section with 0.1%, culture and entertainment section with 0.1%, and finally restaurants and hotels sections with 0.1%. In contrast, two of the main sections witnessed an increase, which are: food and beverages section with 0.2% and tobacco section with 0.1%. Telecommunication and education sections remained stable with no change. The year-over-year (YOY) of CPI registered an increase of 2.4% in October 2018 compared to the same month last year reaching (106.8) in October 2018 compared to (104.3) in October 2017. The ten sections composing the CPI contributed to year-over-year increase, which are: transportation section 11.5%, tobacco 10.2%, restaurants and hotels 8.7%, food and beverages 7.3%, health 4.0%, culture and entertainment 3.2%, home furnishing and equipment 2.8%, telecommunication 1.4%, education 0.2%, personal goods and services 0.1%. On the other hand, two of the main sections witnessed a decline, which are: clothing and shoes section with 5.0% as well as housing, water, electricity and gas section with 3.6%.

Number of Saudi Females Workers Increased in Internal Trade Activity GASTAT Releases Internal Trade Survey Results Q2- 2018 The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released on its official website www.stats.gov.sa the results of the "Internal Trade Survey for the Second Quarter of 2018". The survey is defined as a set of economic statistics and data that can be used for short-term to measure the performance of the trade sector in order to assess its growth, and identify its strengths or weaknesses. Moreover, it is an important economic activity that contributes to expand employment and raise GDP, exactly like the retail activity. This activity connects producers with consumers, and focusses on the features and components of establishments engaged in the activities of vehicles sale and repair as well as wholesale and retail sale trade. The survey showed that the number of Saudi females workers of the internal trade activity establishments increased by 2%, compared to the previous quarter. The workers’ number of internal trade sector in Saudi Arabia reached about one million six hundred eighty-five thousand workers by the end of the second quarter of 2018, including almost one million two hundred fifty thousand non-Saudi workers. However, the number of Saudi workers of the same sector was approximately four hundred thirty-four thousand workers. The employees of the retail trade made up (1,054,460) one million, fifty-four thousand, four hundred sixty workers, including (771,650) seven hundred seventy-one thousand, six hundred fifty non-Saudi workers. However, the number of Saudi employees in this activity was (282,810) two hundred eighty-two thousand, eight hundred ten workers, the survey showed. The results of the survey also indicated that the total operating revenues(sales) of the internal trade sector during the second quarter of the current year 2018 amounted to around (148,987 million) one hundred forty-eight thousand, nine hundred eighty-seven million riyals. Nonetheless, the total operating expenses of the sector during the same period recorded about (89,312 million) eighty-nine thousand, three hundred twelve million riyals. Therefore, the operating surplus of the three sector activities during the first quarter of 2018 was about (48,052 million) forty-eight thousand, fifty-two million riyals. Based on the data of the survey, the operating surplus of the wholesale trade was the highest among all the activities of the internal trade, where its number was about (18,928 million) eighteen thousand, nine hundred twenty-eight million riyals during the second quarter of the current year 2018. On the other hand, the operating surplus of the retail trade activity reached around (15,72million) one thousand, five hundred seventy-two million riyals. Finally, the operating surplus of the sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles activity accounted to almost (13,401 million) thirteen thousand, four hundred one million riyals.