On a monthly basis, living costs in the Kingdom rose by 0.4 percent in April, up from 0.3 percent in March, the data from the Central Department of Statistics showed. Inflation in the Kingdom had been falling since touching an 18-month high of 6.1 percent in August.
It had slowed to 4.7 percent in March.
Analysts expect price pressures will grow in the next few months, according to Reuters.
“Inflation seems to be on a gradual yet increasing path. The downward base effects are now winding up and headline inflation will be more accentuated,” said John Sfakianakis, chief economist at Banque Saudi Fransi in Riyadh, was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.
Food prices, which have the largest 26 percent weight in the consumer basket, rose 0.9 percent on a monthly basis, after a 0.1 percent decrease in the previous month.
“Price pressures are now building up and should be reflected in the coming months, especially as we gear up to Ramadan. Rents and food should give upward impetus,” Sfakianakis said in the report.
Housing and energy costs, which represent 18 percent of the basket, rose by 0.5 percent after a 0.8 percent increase in the previous month.
Analysts polled by Reuters in March expected average inflation of 5.6 percent in 2011.
