DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate eased for a second consecutive month to 2.3% in July from 2.7% in June, government data showed on Tuesday.

The rise in prices was mainly driven by an 8.6% jump for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and a 1.4% increase in food and beverages, the General Authority for Statistics said.

Prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels were up 0.3% from June, when it notched a 9.1% annual rise.

Food and beverage prices were 0.4% higher compared to June.

Prices for clothing and footwear dropped 3.9% in July from a year earlier, easing 0.8% from June.

Furnishings, household equipment and maintenance fell 2.5% year-on-year and 0.3% from June.

Inflation in Saudi Arabia has been on a downward trend since starting the year at a rate of 3.4% in January.