Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale transaction value remained above SR13 billion ($3.5 billion) during the week ending May 16, as consumer spending stayed strong across several sectors despite a slight overall decline from the previous week.
Figures released by Saudi Central Bank showed total POS transaction values reached SR13.7 billion ($3.65 billion), while the number of recorded transactions stood at 249.8 million.
The freight transport and courier services sector posted the strongest weekly increase, with transaction values climbing 5.6 percent to SR67.6 million. Spending on apparel and clothing also recorded gains, rising 1.9 percent to SR1.22 billion.
Trade in vehicles and spare parts increased 2.3 percent to SR533.2 million, reflecting continued demand in the automotive sector.
Food and beverages remained the largest spending category across the Kingdom, although transaction values in the segment declined 5.4 percent week on week to SR2.14 billion. Restaurants and cafes ranked second among spending categories, with transaction values slipping 2.2 percent to SR1.73 billion.
Education recorded the sharpest decline among sectors tracked during the week, falling 22 percent to SR164.1 million. Spending on furniture and home supplies also weakened, dropping 10 percent to SR528.2 million, while hotel transactions fell 4.8 percent to SR177 million.
Among the Kingdom’s major cities, Makkah stood out as one of the few to record growth in spending activity. POS transaction values in the holy city rose 3.8 percent to SR459.9 million, while the number of transactions increased 7.2 percent from the previous week.
Riyadh continued to account for the largest share of overall POS spending in the Kingdom. Transaction values in the capital reached SR4.87 billion despite a weekly decline of 4 percent. The total number of transactions in Riyadh fell 1.1 percent to 81.4 million.
In Jeddah, transaction values dropped 3.1 percent to SR1.87 billion, while Dammam recorded a 5.1 percent decrease to SR704.8 million.
The weekly POS data published by SAMA is widely viewed as an important indicator of consumer spending patterns and the expansion of digital payment adoption across Saudi Arabia.
The figures also reflect the continued growth of electronic payment infrastructure beyond the Kingdom’s major commercial centers, supporting broader efforts to improve digital access and financial inclusion.
Saudi Arabia has accelerated the use of digital payment technologies as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to strengthen the non-cash economy and support the Kingdom’s wider digital transformation goals.
