Saudi POS Transactions Stay Above $3bn for Fourth Consecutive Week
Latest data from the Saudi Central Bank shows consumer spending remained above SR11.69 billion during the week ending Oct. 25, reflecting a decline in overall spending in October.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale transactions stayed above the $3 billion mark for the fourth consecutive week, indicating resilience in consumer activity despite a moderation in overall spending in October.
According to the latest figures from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), consumer spending amounted to SR11.69 billion ($3.12 billion) during the week ending Oct. 25, marking a 4.2 percent decrease compared to the previous week's SR12.21 billion.The total number of transactions also witnessed a decline, falling by 4.5 percent from 222.7 million in the prior period to 212.7 million.
The data revealed decreases across most spending categories, led by laundry services which saw the most significant drop—a 10.3 percent fall in value to SR42.58 million.
Jewelry spending followed with a 9.1 percent decline to SR390.69 million.In contrast, the airlines sector experienced an 18.5 percent rise in transactions, reaching SR57.88 million, while freight transport and courier services increased by 5.6 percent to SR33.63 million.
Spending on restaurants and cafes decreased by 4.7 percent to SR1.45 billion, whereas food and beverages fell by 6.6 percent to SR1.79 billion.
Apparel and accessories purchases dropped by 3.2 percent to SR852.42 million, with construction and building materials slipping by 2.8 percent to SR384.69 million.Major urban centers within the Kingdom showed declines in spending.
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, recorded a 2.4 percent decrease from SR4.38 billion to SR4.28 billion.
Transaction numbers in the capital fell to 71.8 million.
Jeddah saw a 4.9 percent decline in transaction values, reaching SR1.61 billion, while Dammam reported a contraction of 4.7 percent to SR590.63 million.Other cities such as Makkah and Madinah also registered notable declines in consumer spending, down by 3.4 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.
SAMA tracks POS data weekly to monitor consumer spending trends and the growing adoption of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The figures highlight the widespread reach of POS infrastructure, now extending beyond major retail areas into smaller cities and service sectors, supporting the Kingdom's digital inclusion initiatives.The ongoing growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, promoting a shift towards cashless transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.
According to the latest figures from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), consumer spending amounted to SR11.69 billion ($3.12 billion) during the week ending Oct. 25, marking a 4.2 percent decrease compared to the previous week's SR12.21 billion.The total number of transactions also witnessed a decline, falling by 4.5 percent from 222.7 million in the prior period to 212.7 million.
The data revealed decreases across most spending categories, led by laundry services which saw the most significant drop—a 10.3 percent fall in value to SR42.58 million.
Jewelry spending followed with a 9.1 percent decline to SR390.69 million.In contrast, the airlines sector experienced an 18.5 percent rise in transactions, reaching SR57.88 million, while freight transport and courier services increased by 5.6 percent to SR33.63 million.
Spending on restaurants and cafes decreased by 4.7 percent to SR1.45 billion, whereas food and beverages fell by 6.6 percent to SR1.79 billion.
Apparel and accessories purchases dropped by 3.2 percent to SR852.42 million, with construction and building materials slipping by 2.8 percent to SR384.69 million.Major urban centers within the Kingdom showed declines in spending.
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, recorded a 2.4 percent decrease from SR4.38 billion to SR4.28 billion.
Transaction numbers in the capital fell to 71.8 million.
Jeddah saw a 4.9 percent decline in transaction values, reaching SR1.61 billion, while Dammam reported a contraction of 4.7 percent to SR590.63 million.Other cities such as Makkah and Madinah also registered notable declines in consumer spending, down by 3.4 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.
SAMA tracks POS data weekly to monitor consumer spending trends and the growing adoption of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The figures highlight the widespread reach of POS infrastructure, now extending beyond major retail areas into smaller cities and service sectors, supporting the Kingdom's digital inclusion initiatives.The ongoing growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, promoting a shift towards cashless transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.
