Economic updates
Our in-depth, independent reports cover the macroeconomic environment, the Saudi government’s annual budget, and Saudi Arabia’s monetary and financial developments, labor market, and inflation.
Saudi Labor Market Update: Unemployment and participation fall
Labor Market reportAccording to data recently released by the General Authority for Statistics (GAS), the Saudi unemployment rate fell slightly from 11.7 percent in 2014 to 11.5 percent in 2015. This fall was mainly attributed to a decline in Saudi labor force participation rather than higher employment growth, as job creation for Saudis have actually slowed during the year. Looking ahead, we expect the private sector to be the main source of new jobs for Saudis, supported by continued labor market reform.
Inflation Update- July 2016: (Inflation continues to slow)
The General Authority for Statistics (GAS) has released Consumer Price Index data for July, showing a deceleration in prices to 3.8 percent year-on-year compared to 4.1 percent in June. Food inflation turned negative for the first time since January 2010, while housing remained as the main contributor to overall inflation during July.