RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions reached SR16.10 billion ($4.29 billion) in the week ending Feb. 7, with most sectors recording positive weekly changes.
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, the overall POS transaction value rose 0.7 percent week on week, while the number of transactions increased 2.9 percent to 256.15 million.
Spending on freight transport and courier services recorded the biggest uptick, rising 9.5 percent to SR68.3 million. Furniture and home supplies followed, climbing 9 percent to SR658.28 million.
Expenditure on personal care fell 3.5 percent, while spending on books and stationery declined 7.7 percent. Hotel outlays rose 4 percent to SR392.35 million.
Spending in pharmacies and on medical supplies dropped 6 percent to SR243.77 million, while medical services increased 5.7 percent to SR544.83 million.
Food and beverages rose 3 percent to SR2.69 billion, accounting for the largest share of total POS spending. Restaurants and cafes followed, edging up 0.2 percent to SR1.82 billion. Apparel and clothing increased 3.1 percent to SR1.38 billion, representing the third-largest share during the monitored week.
Urban spending trends broadly reflected national patterns. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, recorded a 1.2 percent increase to SR5.51 billion, up from SR5.44 billion the previous week. Transactions in the capital reached 81.3 million, a 3.4 percent weekly rise.
In Jeddah, transaction values increased 2.1 percent to SR2.22 billion, while Dammam reported a 1.4 percent decline to SR771.76 million.
POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, serves as an indicator of consumer spending trends and the continued growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The figures also highlight the expanding reach of POS infrastructure beyond major retail hubs into smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.
The rise of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives to promote electronic transactions and strengthen the Kingdom’s digital economy.
Source: www.arabnews.com