Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale (POS) transaction value remained above $3.5 billion in the week ending May 16, with several sectors recording gains even as overall spending edged down from the previous week, reports the Arab News.
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, total transaction value reached 13.7bn riyals ($3.65bn), while the number of transactions stood at 249.8 million.
Freight transport and courier services led the sectoral gainers, rising 5.6 per cent in value to 67.6m riyals.
Apparel and clothing edged up 1.9pc to 1.22bn riyals, while trade of vehicles and spare parts increased 2.3pc to 533.2m riyals.
Food and beverages remained the largest spending category despite a 5.4pc decline to 2.14bn riyals.
Restaurants and cafes followed with a 2.2pc decrease to 1.73bn riyals.
Education spending recorded the steepest sectoral decline, falling 22pc in value to 164.1m riyals.
Hotel spending slipped 4.8pc to 177m riyals, while furniture and home supplies fell 10pc to 528.2m riyals.
Mecca also stood out among major cities, posting a 3.8pc rise in transaction value to 459.9m riyals, with the number of transactions climbing 7.2pc.
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw transaction values decline 4pc to 4.87bn riyals.
The number of transactions in the capital reached 81.4m, down 1.1pc week on week.
In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 3.1pc to 1.87bn riyals, while Dammam reported a 5.1pc decline to 704.8m riyals.
POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.
The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the kingdom’s broader digital economy.
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