Saudi Point-of-Sale Transactions Surge Ahead Of Ramadan Spending

[Mudhab]

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale (POS) transactions remained robust, exceeding $4 billion in the week ending February 14. Consumer activity is showing notable trends as residents prepare for the upcoming Ramadan season.

According to data released by the Saudi Central Bank, total POS activity reached SR15.34 billion ($4.09 billion) for the week. This reflects a slight decline of 4.8 percent compared to the previous week.

Meanwhile, the total number of POS transactions also dipped slightly, falling 1.6 percent to 252 million during the same period. Analysts suggest that small fluctuations are typical during transitional shopping weeks.

Among retail categories, furniture and home supplies recorded the highest growth. Spending in this sector rose 5.9 percent to SR697.35 million, indicating increased consumer interest in preparing homes for Ramadan.

Electronics also saw a positive trend, with expenditures climbing 2.9 percent. This suggests that tech products continue to attract shoppers even as seasonal buying begins.

Expenditures on construction and building materials increased 1.1 percent, highlighting ongoing investment in home improvement projects across the Kingdom.

Overall, while weekly POS activity experienced a minor decline, spending patterns reflect a shift toward home preparation and lifestyle purchases, signaling strong consumer engagement leading into the holy month.


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