DAMMAM: The value of tobacco consumption in Saudi Arabia last year was higher than the total value of spending on electricity and fuel, according to recent studies.

According to the Department of Statistics and Information, tobacco consumption in Saudi Arabia has risen by two percent to register 165.6 points in 2015 compared to 162.3 points in the previous year. This ratio is close to the spending rate on housing, water, electricity and fuel which recorded 164.6 points after an increase of 3.5 percent from 2014.

The report showed that the cost of living rose in all sectors, with the exception of restaurants and hotels which registered a decline of 1.1 percent reaching 128.2 points. Meanwhile, housing, water, electricity and fuel came in the second place after a 3.5 percent increase registering 164.6 points, while food and beverages increased by 1.6 percent to register 147.4 points.

Furnishings and household equipment rose by 2.7 percent registering 131.7 points; next was miscellaneous goods and services with 1.0 percent registering 121.3 points, followed by recreation and culture with 119.5 points, then education with 117.9, while health recorded 115.6 points, transportation 111.9 points, clothing and footwear 109.5 points, and finally communication registered 94.4 points.