Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale (POS) spending increased 1.9% week over week to SR12.60 billion ($3.36 billion) in the week ending June 27, according to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The figures indicate that consumer spending remained resilient, with total POS transactions staying above the $3 billion mark.
Key highlights include:
- Total POS spending: SR12.60 billion ($3.36 billion), up 1.9% from the previous week.
- Number of transactions: 224.3 million, down 1.1%, suggesting a slightly higher average transaction value.
The largest spending categories were:
- Food and beverages: SR1.97 billion (+2.0%)
- Restaurants and cafés: SR1.57 billion (+1.7%)
- Apparel and accessories: SR1.02 billion
- Transport: SR950.56 million
- Gas stations: SR915.76 million
- Health: SR791.24 million
- Professional and business services: SR730.37 million
By city, spending was led by:
- Riyadh: SR4.49 billion (+1.0%)
- Jeddah: SR1.75 billion (+2.8%)
- Dammam: SR631.51 million
- Makkah: SR473.26 million
- Madinah: SR465.27 million
Overall, the data points to continued consumer confidence and ongoing adoption of digital payments, supporting Saudi Arabia's broader transition toward a cashless economy under its national development strategy.