Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi wholesale price index (Inflation at wholesale prices) tumbled 0.3% during October 2017, compared to the year-ago period, the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) stated on Wednesday.

The decrease in Saudi wholesale price index was attributed to a decline in Ores and minerals' section with 6.4%, particularly in stones and sand with 6.4%, and agriculture and fishery products' section with 4.4%, the GASTAT added.

Other goods’ section prices tumbled 2%; furniture with 4%, and metal products, machinery, and equipment section with 0.5%.

On the other hand, the prices of food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles section increased 5% on the back of the surge in tobacco products by 97.4%, and beverages with 39.8%.

On a monthly basis, Saudi Arabian wholesale price index dropped 0.3% to 100.4 points in October, compared to 100.7 points.

In October, the sections of agriculture and fishery products, food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles, and other goods went down 2.8%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively.

On the other hand, ores and minerals’ section rose 0.4%, and metal products, machinery and equipment section inched up 0.3% by the end of October.