Saudi consumers’ spending through point-of-sale transactions fell by about 6.3% from September 13 to 19 to around $3.45 billion (12.92 billion riyals), compared with $3.68 billion (13.79 billion riyals) in the previous week ended September 12, according to the weekly report issued by the Saudi Central Bank, SAMA.
The number of point-of-sale transactions fell by about 5.4% to 241.1 million, compared with 254.91 million in the previous week. These transactions track weekly electronic payments made through point-of-sale terminals across various commercial activities and cities in Saudi Arabia.
Food and beverages lead spending
Food and beverages led point-of-sale activity with spending of $552 million (2.07 billion riyals), despite a 9% decline, across 56.98 million transactions. Restaurants and cafes ranked second, with spending of $421.33 million (1.58 billion riyals), down 6.7%, across 57.51 million transactions.
Consumer spending on clothing and accessories fell 3.4% to $282.67 million (1.06 billion riyals), across 9.45 million point-of-sale transactions. Spending at fuel stations totaled $261.33 million (980 million riyals), down 7.2%, across 17.83 million transactions.
The transport sector recorded spending of $256.36 million (961.35 million riyals), down 4.4% from the previous week, across 6.64 million transactions.
$235.2 million in healthcare spending
Point-of-sale spending in the healthcare sector, which includes medical services, pharmacies, medical supplies and personal care items, totaled $235.2 million (881.99 million riyals) across 9.82 million transactions.
The furniture and household supplies sector recorded 2.55 million point-of-sale transactions worth $134.35 million (503.8 million riyals), while the jewelry sector recorded 289,000 transactions worth $86.83 million (325.6 million riyals). Spending in the telecommunications sector totaled $45.3 million (169.88 million riyals) across 5.17 million transactions.
Spending declines in major cities
Spending in Riyadh fell 4.3% to $1.24 billion (4.66 billion riyals) across 81.33 million transactions, while Jeddah ranked second with spending of $472 million (1.77 billion riyals), down 6.2% from the previous week.
Dammam followed Jeddah with spending of $176 million (660 million riyals), down about 3.8%. Spending in Mecca and Medina also fell by 5.1% and 6.2%, respectively, to $136 million (510 million riyals) and $130.67 million (490 million riyals), respectively.
