RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s inflation eased to 2.6 percent in October, according to the Central Department of Statistics consumer price data released on Wednesday.

Prices of food and beverages rose 3.5 percent year-on-year in October and 1.0 percent from the previous month. Housing and utility costs increased 2.8 percent on an annual basis but fell 0.5 percent month-on-month, the report said.

Analysts polled by Reuters in September expected average inflation in the world's top crude oil exporter to slow to 3.0 percent in 2014 and accelerate again to 3.7 percent in 2015 from 3.5 percent in 2013.