Riyadh: The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released its short-term business indicators bulletin for May 2026, showing the operating revenues index increased by 11.4% compared with May 2025, driven by growth across several economic activities. Mining and quarrying recorded an annual growth of 38.7%, followed by manufacturing at 9.6%. Wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair activities rose by 3.6%, while construction and financial and insurance activities also recorded increases of 2.5% and 12.9%.

According to Saudi Press Agency, on a monthly basis, the operating revenues index increased by 2.9% compared with April 2026, supported by growth across several activities, including mining and quarrying by 10.2%, manufacturing by 0.6%, wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair by 1.3%, financial and insurance activities by 1.1%, and information and communication activities by 1.9%.

Building permits issued in May 2026 recorded a year-on-year decline of 33.3%, totaling 5,056 permits compared with 7,584 permits in May 2025. The number of permits also decreased by 25.7% compared to April 2026, when 6,803 permits were issued.

The short-term business statistics product is an economic statistical tool that measures the performance of various sectors in the short term through monthly indicators tracking changes and growth rates across economic activities. It covers all economic activities of establishments operating in the Kingdom's business sector.