compared with a decline of 0.7% in the same period last year.And because of the Corona virus conditions, Saudi unemployment rates
has increased to reach 15.4%, during Q2 2020.Inflation rates in 2018 were largely influenced by various supply and demand factors and a series of economic and fiscal reforms and compensational initiatives, most importantly energy prices reforms, VAT application, the Citizen Account launch, the reinstate of allowances and the provision of cost of living allowance for this year.The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) stood at 58.3 points at the
end of November FY2019, its highest level in four years, confirming
improvement in private sector activity and confidence among non-oil
private sector firms towards future output.On the other hand, prices of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other Fuels have continued to decline, albeit at a slower pace to record an annual decrease of 0.5% in 2020, compared to a decrease of 9.2% in the same period in 2019.Total lending to the private sector registered annual
growth of 4.2% through October FY2019, compared to -1.6% and
1.6% during the same periods in FY2017 and FY2018, respectively.Lending to the private sector confirms the continued recovery of
economic activity.