RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transaction value remained above SR14.2 billion ($3.8 billion) in the week ending July 11, despite a weekly drop of 15.9 percent, according to the Kingdom’s central bank.
The total number of transactions also eased, dropping 6.8 percent to 250.5 million during the seven-day period, compared with 268.8 million the week before.
Unlike previous weeks, the latest data showed a broad-based pullback, with every activity tracked by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, posting a decline in transaction value.
Hotels were the most resilient category, edging down just 0.3 percent to SR306.2 million, with the number of transactions also nearly flat.
Construction and building materials held up relatively well too, slipping 7 percent to SR411 million, as did gas stations, down 9.4 percent to SR1.01 billion.
Education recorded the steepest fall, plunging 42.1 percent to SR122.3 million, while freight transport and courier services dropped 34.1 percent to SR46.4 million.
Jewelry spending fell 26.5 percent to SR421.4 million, and telecommunications spending slid 26.3 percent to SR195 million. Books and stationery declined 22.6 percent to SR105.8 million, and laundry services fell 22.4 percent to SR57.5 million.
Food and beverages remained the largest spending category despite a 19.8 percent drop to SR2.21 billion.
Restaurants and cafes held the second-largest share, down a comparatively modest 8.5 percent to SR1.85 billion. Apparel, clothing and accessories ranked third, falling 19.1 percent to SR1.2 billion.
Riyadh, which continued to account for the largest share of POS spending, saw transaction value drop 14.2 percent to SR4.72 billion, even as the number of transactions fell a smaller 6.1 percent to 78.7 million.
Jeddah recorded a 13.4 percent decline in value to SR2 billion, while Dammam posted the steepest drop among major cities, down 14.6 percent to SR677.7 million. Madinah fell 14.4 percent to SR569.7 million, and Makkah declined 12.1 percent to SR585.9 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.
