July 10, 2010 – The Saudi inflation rate reached a 13-month high in June, according to the Saudi Central Department of Statistics. Inflation for the month of June was 5.5 percent, compared to 5.4 percent in May. While the inflation rate has been increasing since 2009, Saudi officials do not consider the rise troubling or unexpected, and do not foresee a need to change the economic policy of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. Analysts attribute the rise to increasing housing rents and food prices.