Saudi POS transactions hold above $3bn in late October

30/10/2025 02:47 AST

Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale transactions remained above the $3 billion mark for the fourth consecutive week, underscoring the resilience of consumer activity even as overall spending moderated in October.

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, consumer spending stood at SR11.69 billion ($3.12 billion) during the week ending Oct. 25, reflecting a 4.2 percent decline from SR12.21 billion a week earlier.

The total number of transactions also fell by 4.5 percent to 212.7 million, compared with 222.7 million in the prior seven-day period.

Data revealed declines across most spending categories, led by laundry services, which saw the steepest fall - a 10.3 percent drop in value to SR42.58 million. Spending on jewelry followed, with a 9.1 percent decrease to SR390.69 million.

The airlines category saw the largest increase, up 18.5 percent to SR57.88 million, followed by freight transport and courier services, which rose 5.6 percent to SR33.63 million.

Spending on restaurants and cafes dropped 4.7 percent to SR1.45 billion, while food and beverages fell 6.6 percent to SR1.79 billion. Purchases of apparel and accessories declined 3.2 percent to SR852.42 million, and construction and building materials slipped 2.8 percent to SR384.69 million.

The Kingdom's major urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, recorded a 2.4 percent drop to SR4.28 billion, down from SR4.38 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital fell to 71.8 million.

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 4.9 percent to SR1.61 billion, while Dammam reported a 4.7 percent contraction to SR590.63 million.

Other cities, including Makkah and Madinah, also registered notable declines in consumer spending, down 3.4 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the expanding adoption of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.

The figures also highlight the wider reach of POS infrastructure, which now extends beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting the Kingdom's digital inclusion initiatives.

The continued growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives, promoting cashless transactions and contributing to the Kingdom's broader digital economy.