oil industrial sector is estimated to grow by (10.1) percent; construction sector by (6.3) percent; electricity, gas, and water sector by (5.5) percent; transport and communication sector by (9.5) percent; wholesale, retail, restaurants, and hotels by (5.2) pecent; and finance, insurance and real estate by (5.1) in constant prices. In addition, private sector contribution to GDP is expected to be (44.8) percent in constant prices. 2 - General Price Level Inflation, as measured by the cost of living index, is estimated to have increased by (1.8) percent in 2006, while the non-oil GDP deflator has shown an increase of (2.1) percent. 3 - Foreign Trade and balance of payment According to Central Department of Statistics and information, total exports of goods and services are expected to grow by (15.1) percent reaching SR (808) billion in 2006. Non-oil exports of goods are expected to grow by (10.8) amounting to SR (79) billion, representing (10.1) of total goods exported. Total imports of goods and services are expected to grow by (27.2) percent in 2006 amounting to SR (390) billion, while goods imported are to grow by (9.4) reaching SR (243.7) billion. According to SAMA preliminary data, trade balance is estimated to record a surplus of SR (553.4) billion in 2006, an increase of (17.5) percent. Current account is estimated to record a surplus amounting to SR (358) billion in 2006 compared to (337.7) billion in 2005, an increase of (6) percent. 4 - Money and Banking The government continued implementing macroeconomic policies aimed at maintaining price and exchange rate stability. The broad money supply during the first ten months of fiscal year 2006 grew by (11.8) percent compared to (8.8) percent for the same period of pervious year. With regard to banking sector, Bank deposits recorded a growth of (13) percent during the first ten months of 2006, total banks claims on public and private sectors increased by (4.9) percent ; also, their capital and reserves increased by (20.5) percent reaching SR (80.3) billion. --More
