The International Monetary Fund says Saudi Arabia should adjust its spending to help offset the effects of lower oil prices by reviewing its public sector wage bill and reducing energy subsidies.
Salaries, wages and allowances contribute to about 50 per cent of total budgeted expenditures in Saudi Arabia. Direct and indirect energy subsidies are estimated to cost at least 115 billion Saudi riyals ($30.7 billion) annually.
The price of oil— the backbone of Saudi Arabia's economy — has fallen by about half since mid-2014. Around 90 per cent of the Saudi government's revenue comes from oil.
The IMF said in a report Wednesday that it projects growth in Saudi Arabia's economy will slow to 2.8 per cent this year and will dip to 2.4 per cent next year as the government adjusts its spending.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.