Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia's consumer price index (inflation) registered a 2.5% year-on-year increase in April 2018, according to the General Authority for Statistics' (GASTAT) data.

The growth was attributed to the price hikes in nine main sections of the index topped by tobacco sector, which acquired 54.1%, followed by the transportation sector’s 10.1% jump.

The state-run statistics agency ascribed the rise in the tobacco section to put the selective tax into effect. 

While the restaurants and hotels, food and beverages, and health segments rose 7.2%, 5.6%, and 3.6%, respectively, the state-owned entity noted. 

Month-on-month, Saudi inflation edged down 0.2% to 107.9 points in the fourth month of 2018, from 107.9 points in March.