RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions stood at SR12.3 billion ($3.2 billion) in the week ending April 18, boosted by a 9.9 percent surge in hotel spending.
According to the latest Saudi Central Bank data, hotel spending was among the few categories to record gains during the week. The transaction value rose to SR236.52 million while the number of sales dropped 1.2 percent to 711,000.
Spending on airlines rose 1.2 percent to SR41.3 million despite a 1.4 percent drop in the number of transactions.
The overall POS amount represented a 7.9 percent week-on-week drop, with the number of transactions also decreasing by 4.5 percent to 231.98 million.
Spending on education saw the biggest downturn, at 27.2 percent to SR160.19 million, followed by jewelry, which saw a 17.3 percent decrease to SR342.43 million.
Expenditure on personal care saw a decrease of 5.2 percent, followed by a 9 percent decline in spending on pharmacies and medical supplies.
Food and beverages outlays saw a 7.9 percent drop to SR1.99 billion, although it still claimed the largest share of the POS.
Spending in restaurants and cafes followed with a 6.6 percent decrease to SR1.66 billion. Apparel and clothing dropped by 8.9 percent to SR907.3 million, claiming the third largest share of the POS during the monitored week.
The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline.
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 6.2 percent drop to SR4.38 billion, down from SR4.66 billion the previous week.
The number of transactions in the capital reached 75.6 million, down 2.6 percent week-on-week.
In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 8.6 percent to SR1.69 billion, while Dammam reported a 5.7 percent decline to SR650.39 million.
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.
