The annual inflation rate in Saudi Arabia remained stable at 1.7% during September 2024, showing a relative stability on a year-on-year basis. The inflation rate in Saudi Arabia is considered one of the most stable rates, which confirms the strength and resilience of the Saudi economy. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of the economic plans and decisions that the Kingdom has swiftly implemented to address the wave of global inflation and  high prices.  It is noteworthy that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reflects the changes in prices that consumers pay for a fixed basket of goods and services consisting of 490 items. This basket was selected based on the results of the Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted in 2018. Prices are collected through field visits to points of sale, and statistics on the Consumer Price Index in the Kingdom are published on a monthly basis.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released today the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for August 2024. IPI increased by 1.0% during August 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year (August 2023), supported by the rise in mining and quarrying activity, manufacturing activity, and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activities.  The publication indicated that the index for mining and quarrying activity in August 2024 rose by 0.8% compared to the same month of the previous year (August 2023). Additionally, the index for manufacturing activity in August 2024 increased by 1.1% compared to August 2023. The sub-index for the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning recorded a rise of 4.1%, while the sub-index for water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities decreased of 0.9% compared to August of the previous year. On another note, the index for oil-related activities recorded a decline of 1.4% in August 2024, while the index for non-oil activities achieved an increase of 7.0% compared to August 2023. It is worth mentioning that the General Authority for Statistics issues several statistical products related to the industry, including the Industrial Production Index (IPI), which is an economic indicator that reflects the relative changes and developments in the volume of industrial production. This survey targets industrial establishments engaged in the specified activities, namely mining and quarrying , manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply, as well as water supply, sewage, and waste management activities.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) indicated that the value of merchandise exports during July 2024 amounted to 94.5 billion SAR, compared to 92.6 billion SAR during July 2023, with an increase of 1.9 billion SAR, or 2.1%.
The value of oil exports during July 2024 amounted to 69.1 billion SAR, compared to 71.3 billion SAR during July 2023, with a decrease of 2.2 billion SAR, or 3.1%, according to the results of the publication.
The value of non-oil exports (including re-exports) during July 2024 amounted to 25.4 billion SAR, compared to 21.3 billion SAR during July 2023, with an increase of 4.1 billion SAR by 19.2% , the results noted.
While the value of the Saudi Arabia's merchandise imports during July 2024 amounted to 75.2 billion SAR, compared to 66.8 billion SAR during July 2023, with a decrease of 8.4 billion SAR, or 12.6%. 

Dr. Fahad Aldossari, the President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), headed the delegation from GASTAT participating in the 11th Meeting of the Standing Committee for Statistical Work Affairs held in Muscat, Oman. The meeting aimed to enhance Gulf joint statistical work, support sustainable development plans, and exchange statistical expertise among member states.  The Committee reviewed the implementation of its previous decisions and examined performance reports from the past period. It discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to elevate statistical work, keep pace with global developments, and continuously improve mechanisms for exchanging statistical data. The committee also focused on collaboration in sharing expertise and information, supporting programs to raise statistical awareness, and addressing common challenges. GASTAT’s President highlighted the importance of relations among the GCC countries in pushing wider horizons for effective cooperation in the field of information and statistical data. He expressed his appreciation to the committee members for their efforts in consolidating the concepts of statistical work and its role in supporting development plans and national visions for the council's countries. He praised the support that statistical offices receive from the leaders of GCC countries. The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (“GCC-Stat”) was established to enhance statistical and informational work for national statistical centers and planning agencies, serving as the official source of data, information, and statistics in the member states. The establishment of GCC Stat was approved by the GCC Ministerial Council in September 2011. The Charter was officially endorsed in December 2012 by the GCC Supreme Council (comprised of heads of member states).

 

The General Authority for Statistics released the Editorial Policy for Content Writing and Translation alongside the Numbers Writing Guide, aiming to streamline the creation of statistical content such as publications, reports, and indices. Additionally, these resources aim to disseminate knowledge on linguistic and technical aspects related to statistical content writing. The integration of scientific and technical language aligns with GASTAT's identity and vision. Both guides underwent rigorous scientific review by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language. The release of the Numbers Writing Guide and Editorial Policy underscores GASTAT's commitment to enhancing statistical practices and providing necessary resources. This initiative includes offering linguistic insights in a user-friendly manner and promoting the use of contemporary scientific terminology in statistical discourse. Furthermore, it aims to convey statistical knowledge seamlessly, catering to the needs of individuals involved in statistical and economic content creation. The Editorial Policy for Content Writing and Translation offers a condensed scientific overview of significant linguistic rules, sourced from traditional linguistic literature, and reformulated for clarity. It comprises three primary chapters: guidelines for content editing and writing in Arabic, instructions for editing and writing press and media materials, and guidelines for translating content from Arabic to English. Individuals interested in the Arabic language can leverage the Numbers Writing Guide and Editorial Policy to enhance their writing across various domains. These resources serve as comprehensive references, not limited to statistical fields, but extending to writing, editing, journalistic practices, and media content creation. This release reaffirms GASTAT's commitment to advancing the statistical sector and ensuring accessibility to data and information in Arabic and English, characterized by simplicity, clarity, and robust scientific foundation.

The President of the General Authority for Statistics(GASTAT) Dr. Fahad Aldossari participated in a panel discussion held as part of the Regional Data and Community Development Forum in Sharjah, UAE. The session included a distinguished group of experts in social development, economists, data specialists, and decision-makers to discuss statistical offices in the age of artificial intelligence. Notable participants in the discussion included Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, former President of Estonia, Mr. Ali bin Mahboob, former Chair of the UN Statistical Commission, and Mr. Alan Smithson, Co-Founder of MetaVerse.
During his participation in the "Expert Talk" session, Dr. Fahad Aldossari explained that GASTAT has invested in expanding the diversification of data sources by utilizing administrative records available from various entities in both the public and private sectors. He emphasized the importance of expanding strategic partnerships that support this direction, supplemented by satellite data and big data, in addition to the surveys conducted by GASTAT. He affirmed that diversifying data sources enhances their quality and reliability.
In the same context, He stated that focusing on the development of statistical systems aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes technological innovation and governance based on organized and unbiased data. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia's investment stems from the belief that technological advancement is not only a means to improve efficiency and accuracy but is also a fundamental pillar for transforming statistical centers into strategic tools that support decision-makers in developing data-driven economic and social policies.
It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia is participating in the Regional Data and Community Development Forum, represented by GASTAT, at the invitation of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development which will take place on 9-10 October 2024. The forum aims to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of data in addressing social and environmental issues and to highlight best practices and examples in this field. The forum brings together policymakers, government officials, and private sector representatives along with community development experts, academics, researchers, national statistical offices, and international organizations.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released today the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for July 2024. According to the report, the index increased by 1.6% in July 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year, July 2023. This growth was driven by the rise in manufacturing activity, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supplies, as well as water supply, sewage, waste management, and treatment activities. The report revealed a 4.6% increase in the sub-index for manufacturing activity compared to July of the previous year, while the sub-index for mining and quarrying activity showed a decline of 0.8% in July 2024. The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supplies recorded an 8.2% increase, and the sub-index for water supply, sewage, waste management, and treatment activities rose by 1.1%, compared to July of the previous year. The report indicated that the oil activities index decreased by 1.1% in July 2024, while the non-oil activities index increased by 8.2% compared to the same month of the previous year. It is worth mentioning that the General Authority for Statistics issues several statistical products related to the industry, including the Industrial Production Index (IPI), which is an economic indicator that reflects the relative changes and developments in the volume of industrial production. This index is based on data from the Industrial Production Survey, which is conducted monthly and targets industrial establishments operating in key activities such as mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity and gas supply.

The High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB) announced today, Thursday, September 5, 2024 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics, won the bid to host the United Nations World Data Forum in Riyadh. The decision was made after securing the majority of votes following a review of the proposals from countries competing to host the forum, showcasing their capabilities to host this global event. The announcement of the Kingdom’s win came following a meeting of the HLG-PCCB group responsible for assigning the hosting rights to the candidate countries, during which Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, presented the Kingdom’s bid. His presentation included an overview of GASTAT’s journey in statistical work, the transformations it has witnessed, the Kingdom's pioneering experience in hosting international events, and its ability to provide all forms of logistical support to achieve the objectives of these events. The proposal also included a suggested main topic for the forum titled “Using the Latest Technologies and Methodologies to Enhance Global Statistical Systems and Enable Sustainable Development”. In this context, Dr. Fahad Aldossari said, “Hosting this leading event by the Kingdom reflects its prominent status among nations, affirming the commitment of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud — may Allah protect them — to support the statistical sector, recognizing the pivotal role statistical data plays in supporting the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable development plans across all fields”. He added, “Winning the bid to host the United Nations World Data Forum 2026 crowns the prominent efforts in the statistical field. It also reflects the significant expansions in statistical work witnessed over recent years, driven by initiatives and projects led by the General Authority for Statistics, aiming to produce accurate and updated statistical data and indicators, through the continuous development of integrating various data sources using the best data management and governance infrastructures”.  It is noteworthy that the international data forum targets the 193 member states of the United Nations. The Kingdom’s win to host the sixth edition of the forum's activities emphasizes its pivotal role in supporting the directions aimed at providing high-quality statistical data and indicators. The forum also involves the participation of international organizations, statistical offices of the UN member states, as well as data scientists and those interested in statistics.

A delegation from the General Authority for Statistics, led by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari , GASTAT President, met with several government officials and private sector representatives in Estonia as part of their visit to the Republic of Estonia. During the meetings, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the statistical field, reviewed the latest developments in statistical practices, and strengthened the exchange of expertise. It is worth noting that this visit is part of a series of reciprocal visits with statistical agencies aimed at fostering cooperation, sharing experiences, and localizing practices that add value to GASTAT’s initiatives. The delegation also aimed to demonstrate the progress in statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is supported by the generous leadership, reflecting its commitment to providing data and statistical indicators that aid in development planning and inform both the local and international community about the advancements occurring in the Kingdom across all sectors.