Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale transactions reach $3.5 billion in the week to 18 July, an 8.5% weekly drop

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, the total value of point-of-sale transactions in the kingdom reached SR13 billion, equivalent to $3.5 billion, in the week ending 18 July 2026 (27 Tir 1405), 8.5 percent lower than the previous week. The number of transactions also fell 5.5 percent to 236.7 million.

The decline was broad based, with freight transport and courier services the only gainer, up 1 percent. Food and beverages retained the largest share despite an 8.2 percent fall to SR2.03 billion, while restaurants and cafes held second place at SR1.72 billion, down 6.8 percent. The steepest weekly drop was in education spending, down 19.4 percent to SR98.6 million.

Riyadh, which accounts for the largest share of this spending, recorded a 7.6 percent fall in transaction value to SR4.36 billion. The point-of-sale data, published weekly by the Saudi Central Bank, is one of the gauges used to follow consumer spending trends in the largest economy of the Persian Gulf.