Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale (POS) transaction value remained above $3.5 billion in the week ending May 9, indicating sustained consumer activity despite a notable decline in spending across several sectors.
Weekly POS Data Overview
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), total POS transactions reached SR14.2 billion ($3.8 billion) during the week, marking a 14.8 percent decrease in transaction value compared to the previous week. The total number of transactions also fell by 7.1 percent to 251.5 million, down from 270.7 million a week earlier, reflecting a broad-based pullback across nearly all consumer spending categories.
Sectoral Breakdown of Spending
Hotel spending experienced the steepest drop, falling 47.7 percent in value to SR185.9 million, with the number of hotel transactions declining 27.7 percent to 691,000. Freight transport and courier services also saw a sharp retreat, with spending dropping 26 percent to SR64 million. Laundry services fell 22.9 percent to SR58.8 million, while telecommunications expenditure declined 24.1 percent to SR184.9 million.
Food and beverages remained the largest spending category despite a 20.3 percent drop to SR2.26 billion. Restaurants and cafes followed with an 11 percent decrease to SR1.77 billion. Apparel, clothing, and accessories slid 13 percent to SR1.2 billion, retaining their position as the third-largest share of total POS spending during the monitored week.
Positive Growth in Books and Stationery
One of the few growth categories was books and stationery, which bucked the broader trend with a marginal 0.1 percent rise in value to SR119.5 million, with the number of transactions edging up 2.1 percent.
City-Wise Performance
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw transaction values fall 8.2 percent to SR5.07 billion. The number of transactions in the capital reached 82.4 million, down 4.6 percent week on week. In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 11.4 percent to SR1.93 billion, while Makkah reported the sharpest decline among major cities, falling 43.2 percent to SR442.9 million. Dammam saw spending fall 8.2 percent to SR743 million.
Implications for Digital Payments
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.
