Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending showed continued resilience in October, with point-of-sale (POS) transactions staying above the $3 billion mark for the fourth consecutive week, even as overall expenditure recorded a modest decline.
According to data released by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), total POS spending stood at SR11.69 billion ($3.12 billion) during the week ending October 25, marking a 4.2 percent drop from SR12.21 billion in the previous week. The number of transactions also fell by 4.5 percent to 212.7 million, down from 222.7 million a week earlier.
Most spending categories experienced declines, led by laundry services, which posted the sharpest drop at 10.3 percent, totaling SR42.58 million. Jewelry spending followed with a 9.1 percent fall to SR390.69 million. Conversely, airline spending surged 18.5 percent to SR57.88 million, while freight transport and courier services rose 5.6 percent to SR33.63 million — suggesting renewed activity in travel and logistics.
Restaurants and cafes, a major segment of consumer spending, saw expenditures decrease 4.7 percent to SR1.45 billion. Food and beverages dropped 6.6 percent to SR1.79 billion, while apparel and accessories declined 3.2 percent to SR852.42 million. Spending on construction and building materials also slipped 2.8 percent to SR384.69 million.
The Kingdom’s largest cities largely mirrored the national slowdown. Riyadh, which accounted for the biggest share of POS activity, recorded a 2.4 percent decline to SR4.28 billion from SR4.38 billion the previous week. Transaction volumes in the capital reached 71.8 million. In Jeddah, POS spending dropped 4.9 percent to SR1.61 billion, while Dammam recorded a 4.7 percent fall to SR590.63 million. Consumer spending in Makkah and Madinah also eased by 3.4 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.
Despite the weekly dip, analysts view the sustained spending above SR11 billion as a sign of robust consumer confidence and expanding digital payment adoption. SAMA’s POS data, tracked weekly, offers key insights into spending behavior and reflects the growing penetration of electronic transactions across both major retail hubs and smaller service sectors.
The steady use of digital payments supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to promote financial inclusion, reduce reliance on cash, and accelerate the Kingdom’s shift toward a digitally driven economy.
