Prices and Index Bulletins:

Since the year 1390 AH (1970), the Central Department of Statistics (CDS) prepares and issues a bulletin on the Cost of Living Index. This bulletin was issued annually until the year 1396 (1976), when CDS started publishing the bulletin quarterly The bulletin was somehow simple as the year 1390 (1970) was the base-year and the prices were collected in Riyadh only. Then the Prices and Index Numbers Department was established in 1398 AH (1978) which undertakes complete follow up of  Prices and Index  programs and Bulletins: -

First: - Cost of Living Index programs:

This program aims to prepare index numbers to measure changes in the price of any of the fixed market goods for goods and services during a limited time period. The year 1400 AH (1980) was the actual start of developing the living cost indexes program, when the computer was used in records calculations, and the base year was updated to be the year 1399 AH ( 1979) instead of 1390 AH( 1970). New weights were also used to weigh prices such weights were derived from the consumer expenditure survey conducted by the CDS in 1396 AH( 1976). in addition 205 goods were introduced, and the number of cities from which the prices are collected increased to five cities namely (Riyadh- Jeddah - Dammam-Abha – Buraydah). During the year 1403 AH (1983) some adjustments were undertaken in the program in order to improve it and achieve maximum accuracy, so an index especially for retail prices of imports was issued, and the surveyed cities increased to ten cities, while the base year became 1403 AH (1983) instead of 1399 AH ( 1979). The number of goods included in the 3 records increased to be 200 goods, and the weights of prices derived from the consumer expenditure survey conducted in 1400 AH (1980) were updated. The Prices and Index Statistics Division continued, since then, in the process of revision and evaluation as well as conducting some adjustments and improvements. This was represented in selecting the year 1408 AH ( 1988) as a base year instead of the year 1403 AH (1983). The previous definition of Middle Income Person of the category (3000 – 11000) Riyals was adjusted to the category whose expenses varies from (2500 – 10000) Riyals. The number of goods also introduced in the index increased to 220 goods distributed on 48 branch groups for the three index The price weights which were derived from consumer expenditure survey conducted by CDS in 1405/1496 AH (1985) also were updated.

Cost of Living Index for all population in the Kingdom is considered one of the most important indexes, since it is essential in the preparation of the various analyses and reports related to price movement during different time periods, due to its comprehensiveness and because represents various population categories in the Kingdom. This index started it to be issued since 1399 AH (1979).

Second: - Wholesale Price Index Program: -

CDS started the process of collecting the Wholesale Prices since 1393 AH (1973) in ( Riyadh- Jeddah – Dammam ). This index aims at measuring the average of the price changes for goods and services sold in the primary markets in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This Wholesale Price Index measures only the changes resulting from price’s increase or decrease. The bulletin is issued every three months and it contains the Wholesale Price Index of 160 main goods, which are distributed on 10 main sections as follows: -

1. Food and Live Animals specifically used for human consumption
2. Beverage and Tobacco
3. Crude Materials excluding Fuel
4. Mineral Fuels and Grease Oil and related materials.
5. Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats
6. Chemicals and related Products.
7. Classified Manufactured Goods according to material.
8. Machinery and transport
9. Misc. Manufactured Articles
10. Other Commodities

The bulletin includes explanation of how the Wholesale Price Index is prepared, and the most important features of the Wholesale Price movement and the diagrams which explain the percent change in the Wholesale Price Index according to sections.

It includes the following tables: -

1. Wholesale Price Index ( by section).
2. Wholesale Price Index (by section, Division).
3. Wholesale Price Index (by section, Division, Item ).
4. Wholesale Price index Annual Average
5. Relative weight for Wholesale Price Index.