RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions value reached SR13 billion ($3.5 billion) in the week ending July 18, with freight transport and courier services the sole gainer.
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, this represented an 8.5 percent decline from the previous week, while the total number of transactions fell 5.5 percent to 236.7 million during the seven-day period.
The broad-based pullback left almost every sector in negative territory, with the 1 percent growth across freight transport and courier services the only increase.
Jewelry proved the most resilient among the losers, dipping just 1.8 percent to SR413.7 million, followed by hotels, down 2.3 percent to SR299.2 million, and construction and building materials, down 3.1 percent to SR398.1 million.
At the other end of the scale, education spending tumbled 19.4 percent to SR98.6 million, the steepest drop of the week, while miscellaneous transport-related services fell 15.5 percent to SR74.5 million.
Personal care spending slid 14.2 percent to SR134.5 million, apparel and accessories dropped 13.5 percent to SR1.04 billion, and both telecommunications and laundry services declined 13.4 percent, to SR168.8 million and SR49.8 million respectively.
Food and beverages retained the largest share of POS spending despite an 8.2 percent decline to SR2.03 billion. Restaurants and cafes held the second-largest share, down 6.8 percent to SR1.72 billion, while apparel and clothing took third place despite posting one of the sharpest weekly drops.
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, recorded a 7.6 percent drop in transaction value to SR4.36 billion, with the number of transactions falling 4.6 percent to 75.1 million.
Jeddah saw transaction values fall 7.7 percent to SR1.85 billion, while Dammam posted the steepest decline among major cities, down 9 percent to SR617 million. Makkah slipped 8.3 percent to SR537.1 million, and Madinah eased 7.7 percent to SR526.1 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.
