Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale (POS) transactions increased by 6.3% in the week ending March 22, reaching SAR 14.4 billion (USD 3.8 billion), according to a report by Arab News on Wednesday. Jewelry led this growth, showing the highest surge in transaction value.
Data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) revealed that spending on jewelry rose by 29.9%, totaling SAR 544.4 million (USD 145 million). The number of transactions in the jewelry sector also saw a sharp increase, rising by 34.4% to 403,000 transactions.
The hotel sector ranked second in transaction growth, with a 24.8% increase, reaching SAR 440 million (USD 117 million). Clothing and footwear followed closely, with spending rising by 24.5% to SAR 1.87 billion (USD 498 million), making it the second-largest category in POS transactions.
Transportation spending experienced a moderate increase of 6.9%, amounting to SAR 950.8 million (USD 253 million). Meanwhile, expenditure in restaurants and cafes rose by 3.7%, bringing the total transaction value in this sector to SAR 1.5 billion (USD 399.5 million).
The latest figures highlight strong consumer spending in Saudi Arabia, with jewelry remaining a key driver of growth in the retail sector.
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