Sunday, May 19, 2013
RIYADH--Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rose slightly to 4% in April compared with 3.9% in March on higher food prices, the Central Department for Statistic and Information said in a statement.
The higher inflation was underpinned by food prices which rose 6.2% year-on-year compared to 5.3% in March, the government statistics agency said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
However, the cost of housing and utilities in April eased to an annual rate of 3%, compared with 3.1% in March.
Saudi Arabia's central bank and the International Monetary Fund have said they expect inflation in the kingdom to peak at around 4.6% this year before slowing again by 2014.
Write to Ellen Knickmeyer at ellen.knickmeyer@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
19-05-13 0533GMT
