Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

12/02/2026

Statistical Presentation

Data description

An economic indicator that presents the average level and the annual and monthly rates of change in the prices of a defined basket of goods and services representing the main consumer products for households, as well as selected construction materials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over a specified period compared with the preceding period. The indicator is based on data collected through a field survey, characterized by pricing each item according to a fixed and clearly defined specification and time period. To reflect price movements in the local market within the basket of average prices of goods and services, and among its key features are:
•    Monitoring retail price movements for a set of consumer goods and services.
•    Monitoring retail price movements for selected key construction materials.
•    Providing a time series of statistical data on average prices and rates of change.
The average price and rate of change for each good or service are treated as an independent indicator, which can be used to achieve several objectives, including: 
•    Supporting the formulation of economic policies and decision-making.
•    Supporting local market studies.
•    Meeting regional and international standards, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) requirements.
Uses of data on average prices of goods and services:
•    Cost of main basket of goods and services for the final consumer.
•    Cost of basic construction materials.
•    Annual and monthly rate or percentage of change for each good or service.

Classifications

The following classifications are applied in average prices of goods and services:
Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP2018):
The average prices program uses the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP2018)with modification of the labels of the sections in proportion to the selected items within the department as follows:

Classification of establishments included in the survey:
•    All points of sale and service delivery at retail price in Saudi Arabia.
•    Goods and services included in the basket for the average prices of goods and services survey.
The classifications are available on GASTAT website:  www.stats.gov.sa

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terminologies and concepts of Average Prices of Goods and Services:
•    Average prices:
A statistical measure of changes in the average prices of an item with a fixed and specified specification and period.
•    Change percentage: 
The rate of change between a current period and a previous period.
•    Goods and services: 
These are the main goods and services that are most consumed by the household consumer for living purposes.
•    Points of sale: 
The establishments or units from which the price data of goods and services are collected, such as retail stores such as groceries, clothing stores and shops selling construction materials, in addition to shops providing various services to the consumer such as services (doctors, sewing, car maintenance, apartments and hotels, laundry and ironing, hair shaving) and other service shops.
•    Construction goods: 
The main commodities related to housing construction and government contracts are (iron, cable, cement, timber, ready-made concrete).
•    Permanence: 
Ensure that the point of sale continues to be active for a long time.
•    Frequency:
 It is the purchasing activity at the point of sale.

Data sources

Data are collected through field visits (a field survey) to a sample of the average prices of goods and services survey, consisting of retail points of sale across sixteen cities: Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Ta’if, Madinah, Buraydah, Dammam, Al-Hofuf, Abha, Tabuk, Hail, Arar, Jazan, Najran, Al-Baha, and Sakaka. These cities represent all thirteen administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, secondary sources are used, including temporary markets, online stores, and service applications.
The disseminated key variables of survey data are:
•    Average monthly and annual prices of goods and services per item.
•    Monthly and annual changes in average prices for each item.

Designing the data collection tool

The Average Prices of Goods and Services Survey questionnaire is designed to be an effective and comprehensive tool for accurately collecting the required data according to the methodology. The questionnaire includes:
Reference period:
It includes the reference month, region, city, and the pricing cycle for price collection period.
Identification data:
These data include basic information that helps accurately identify the point of sale and the geographical location, and they comprise:
•    The establishment’s number and name, neighborhood, and geographic data.
•    Detailed address and geographic location (including coordinates, street name, neighborhood, and postal code).
•    Contact information, if available (e.g., phone number).
Items and prices data:
This section contains a list of goods and services included in the Average Prices of Goods and Services Survey basket. Detailed data for each item are collected according to the approved standard specifications, including:
•    Item code and name (good or service).
•    Quantity or standard unit of measurement (e.g., kg, liter, service, etc.).
•    Specifications, determined according to several pricing factors such as unit, quantity, brand, etc.
•    Current and previous price of the item.
•    Analysis code, which describes the field situation and the application of preliminary correction rules.
Notes regarding any changes in specifications (e.g., brand, model, etc.) and price (e.g., promotional offers or changes in quality or the source of the item, etc.).

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Not available.

Statistical population

All goods and services priced at retail and included in the approved survey basket, across all thirteen administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Sample Design

A purposive sample was adopted for the Average Prices of Goods and Services survey, selected directly from the field across the thirteen administrative regions to represent the diverse areas of the Kingdom, ensuring variation in consumption patterns and market prices. A total of 2,139 points of sale and 25,041 price listings for all 170 items in the basket.

Statistical unit (sampling unit)

The statistical unit in the Average Prices of Goods and Services survey is the price of a good or service at the point of sale.

Data collection

Data collection from the survey:
The Average Prices of Goods and Services survey data were collected through face-to-face interviews using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).
They will be stored in GASTAT databases after auditing and reviewing according to established statistical methods and recognized quality standards, with reference to the data source in case any errors are discovered or if there are any observations regarding the data.

Data collection frequency 

The Average Prices of Goods and Services survey data collection is conducted on a monthly basis.

Reference area

The Average Prices of Goods and Services survey covers sixteen cities, which are: (Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Medina, Buraidah, Dammam, Hofuf, Abha, Tabuk, Hail, Arar, Jizan, Najran, Al Baha, Sakaka) it is representative of all 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia.

Reference period (time reference)

References period to the variables or dataset as following:
•    The collected  data is based on the calendar month in which the price data is collected, 
•    Annual aggregate reports are published at the end of the calendar year.

Base period

Not applicable, as the average price reflects the price level and does not measure change over time. 

Unit of measure

•    The average price index of a good or service is measured in SAR.
•    The percentage change index for a good or service measured in percentage.

Time coverage

Data are available from January 2009 to the current month of 2026.

Publication frequency

The survey results are published monthly according to the approved statistical plan. Additionally, annual aggregated reports are published at the end of the calendar year.

Statistical processing

Error detection

During the field price data collection process, a critical stage in ensuring data quality begins, which involves applying rules of alert, restriction, and correction, as well as reviewing the consistency and accuracy of the data compared to previous cycles. This stage aims to ensure that the collected data are reliable and free from errors or outliers before starting the statistical processing and producing the final results.
First: Implementing alert and restriction rules:
•    Alert rules:
-    They are used to detect unusual values or those that are significantly higher or lower compared to the previous price.
-    Example: If the price of a commodity increases by 30% compared to the previous month, the system issues an alert to review this value.
•    Restriction rules:
-    Restriction rules are applied to prevent the entry of data that are inconsistent with logical criteria or approved technical specifications.
-    Entering an analysis code that does not match the price trend, such as recording the code indicating a price decrease while the actual recorded price shows an increase.
Second: Implementing correction rules:
•    After verifying alerts or cases that were not allowed to be entered, corrections are carried out in coordination with the field teams.
•    Adjustments are not made automatically; rather, they undergo human review to ensure the validity of the change and to avoid affecting the credibility of the time series of the data.
Third: Comparison with previous periods:
Detailed comparisons are conducted between the current cycle data and the data of:
•    The previous month to identify any unjustified monthly changes.
•    The same month of the previous year to observe annual changes and monitor price trends.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources 

Not applicable, the only primary source is the survey data. 

Imputation and calibration

Not applicable, pricing is done from a nearby point of sale with the same specifications.

Seasonal adjustments

Not applicable, an alternative item is priced with an adjustment to one of the pricing factors at the city or across the Kingdom. 

Adjustment of preliminary results

Adjustments are made only during the review and approval process, after the results have been calculated according to the indicator calculation formula, which is as follows:
Calculation formula:
•    Average Price Index:

The method for calculating the items of the table of average prices of selected construction materials in the Kingdom is as follows:
•    Ready-mix concrete:

the average of four items, namely (350K resistant concrete, 250K resistant concrete, 350K normal concrete, and 250K normal concrete).
•    Steel:
the average of seven items, namely domestic reinforcing steel 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 14 mm, 16 mm, and 18 mm.
•    Cement:
the average price of cement at retail and wholesale levels.
•    Electrical cables:
the average of three items, namely (domestic electrical cables 10 mm, 25 mm, and 50 mm).
•    Timber:
the average of three items, namely Chilean timber, African teak (Iroko), and Indonesian plywood.

Resources used

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A criterion that indicates how well the product meets users’ needs.

User needs 

Internal users in the GASTAT for the average prices of goods and services data:
National accounts, Construction Cost Index, Purchasing Power Parities.
Some several external users and beneficiaries greatly benefit from the average prices of goods and services data, including:
•    Government entities.
•    Regional and international organizations.
•    Research institutions.
•    International investors.
The disseminated key variables that are mostly used by external users:

Completeness 

The Average Prices of Goods and Services data are based on the field survey of average prices of goods and services, which is conducted monthly by GASTAT. This survey falls under the category of Economic Statistics and involves collecting prices through field visits to retail points of sale and service providers across the administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electronic questionnaires containing a range of goods and services are completed, through which the Average Prices of Goods and Services indicators are produced.

Accuracy and reliability 

A standard that measures how close the calculations or estimates are to the exact or true values that reflect reality.

Overall accuracy 

•    The data collected is improved through the researchers, that have been selected according to a set of practical and objective criteria and training program related to the field of work.
•    Alert, prevention, and correction rules are applied during the data collection process on the electronic questionnaire for the average prices of goods and services to improve data quality.
•    Data is checked with previous years to identify any significant changes in the data.
•    The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized.
•    The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series is confirmed.

Timeliness and punctuality 

Timeliness: A standard that indicates the length of time between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.
Punctuality: It reflects the time lag between the data publication date and the target date when publication actually occurs.

Timeliness 

GASTAT uses the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) issued by the International Monetary Fund. According to this Standard, all statistics agencies are required to publish data on a monthly basis, and with a delay of no more than 6 weeks (42 days) after the end of the reference period.

Punctuality 

Publication is carried out according to the release dates in the statistical calendar for the Average Prices of Goods and Services, available on GASTAT website.
The data are available at the expected time, as scheduled in the statistical release calendar, If the publication is delayed, reasons shall be provided.

Coherence and comparability

A standard that refers to the necessity of internal and temporal consistency of statistics, their logical coherence, and their comparability and integration across different regions and sources.

Comparability - geographical

The statistical data on Average Prices of Goods and Services is fully geographically comparable within the Kingdom, as well as at the regional and international levels. 

Comparability - over time 

The survey started in 2009 as a monthly survey. The following are the main changes that have occurred in the survey:
•    2025:
GASTAT updated the classification used from (COICOP1999) to (COICOP2018), and accordingly, the sections, subgroups, and items were reorganized.

Coherence- Cross domain

Same classifications are used when comparing the Average Prices of Goods and Services with the Consumer Price Index to ensure consistency of results. This is done by matching the outputs with the published data and reviewing any discrepancies that may arise.

Coherence- Sub-annual and annual statistics 

Monthly and annual time series are available for each item or service, ensuring the ability to make comparisons, analyze historical trends, and access data in various types and from different sources.

Coherence- National Accounts 

Data are consistent with the national accounts requirements. 

Coherence- Internal 

Estimates of the Average Prices of Goods and Services have full internal consistency, as they are all based on the same accurate dataset and calculated using the same estimation methods.

Accessibility and clarity

This refers to the accessibility of data for users, the availability of detailed or aggregated data, as well as the availability of the methodology and quality report.

Press releases

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 10.1. The press releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link: 
Press release

Publications

GASTAT issues publications and reports on the Average Prices of Goods and Services on a regular basis within a pre-prepared release plan published on GASTAT’s website.  GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, metadata, methodology, and questionnaires) in both English and Arabic.
The Average Prices of Goods and Services results are available for publication on:
Average Prices Statistics

Online database

The data are published in spreadsheets at the following link: 
Average Prices Statistics

Microdata accessibility

Accurate data is unit-level disaggregated data obtained from multiple sources such as sample statistical surveys, general population and housing censuses, and administrative systems, providing detailed information about the characteristics of individuals, families, business entities, and geographical areas, supporting the construction and development of statistical indicators and scientific research.
Different types of microdata files to meet diverse information needs:
•    Public use:
It consists of sets of records containing information on individuals, households, or business entities anonymized in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly (such as by name, address, contact number, identity number, etc.) or indirectly (by combining different – especially rare – characteristics of respondents), such as age, occupation, education, etc.
•    Scientific use:
These files are established based on a specific methodology requested by the data requester to extract the datasets with specific characteristics used for strategic studies and decision-making, as well as scientific research purposes on individuals, households, and enterprises with no direct identifiers, which have been subject to control methods to protect confidentiality.
Qualified users who meet the standards and procedures of confidentiality protection can access the files of scientific use of accurate data through the platform "ITAHA" of the General Authority for Statistics, while the most sensitive data for use is shared by visiting the accurate data laboratory within a secure environment managed by the Authority.

References and standards

General standards of the statistical process:
Commitment to the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), which provides a standardized description of the stages of statistical data production, from identifying needs to publication and evaluation.

Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)
The Guideline for the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP2018).

Quality assurance

GASTAT declares that it considers the following principles: Impartiality, ensuring that the statistical product is user-oriented, maintaining the quality of processes and outputs, enhancing the effectiveness of statistical operations, and reducing the burden on respondents. 
Data is validated through procedures and quality controls that are applied during the process at various stages, such as: (data entry, data collection, and other final controls).

Quality assessment

GASTAT performs all statistical activities according to a national model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report, which outlines all the quality issues related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality – Policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1397, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data is protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality - Data Treatment

Data from the SMEs survey are presented in the right tables in order to summarise and understand as well as extract their results. Moreover, to compare them with other data and to obtain statistical significance about the selected study population. However, referring to such data indicated in tables is much easier than going back to check the original questionnaire, which may include some data like names and addresses of individuals and names of data providers, which violates the data confidentiality of statistical data.
“Anonymity of data” is one of the most important procedures. To keep data confidential,
GASTAT removed information on individual persons, households, or business entities in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly (such as by name, address, contact number, identity number, etc.) or indirectly (by combining different, especially rare characteristics of respondents), such as age, occupation, education, etc.

Dissemination policy

Statistical calendar

The Average Prices of Goods and Services have been included in the statistical calendar.
Statistical Calendar

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the publication’s results once the average prices of goods and services publication is published.
It also receives questions and inquiries of the clients about the Publication and its results 
through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website:  www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official email address:   info@stats.gov.sa
•    Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
•    Official letters.
•    Statistical telephone: (199009).

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