Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale (POS) spending surged 27.8 percent in the final week of January, reaching SR16 billion ($4.27 billion), according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The increase reflects stronger consumer activity across most sectors as January came to a close.
Transaction volumes rose 16.5 percent week on week to 248.8 million, signaling robust retail and services demand.
Jewelry and food lead growth
Spending on jewelry recorded the sharpest rise, jumping 55.5 percent to SR613.7 million, followed by laundry services, up 44.4 percent.
Food and beverages accounted for the largest share of total POS value, climbing 38.6 percent to SR2.6 billion, while restaurants and cafés saw a 20.4 percent increase to SR1.81 billion.
Outlays on apparel and clothing rose 35.4 percent to SR1.33 billion, ranking third in overall spending. Healthcare-related spending also increased, with pharmacies and medical supplies up 33.4 percent, and medical services rising 13.7 percent.
Major cities mirror national trend
Saudi Arabia’s main cities reflected the nationwide growth.
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Riyadh recorded POS spending of SR5.44 billion, up 22 percent, with transactions rising 13.8 percent
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Jeddah saw a 23.7 percent increase to SR2.16 billion
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Dammam posted a 22.2 percent rise to SR783 million
Digital payments momentum
SAMA’s weekly POS data highlights the continued expansion of digital payments infrastructure across the Kingdom, extending beyond major urban centers into smaller cities and service sectors.
The trend supports Saudi Vision 2030 objectives aimed at boosting electronic transactions, enhancing financial inclusion, and strengthening the Kingdom’s digital economy.
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