{"id":582938,"date":"2026-08-28T11:52:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T11:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/582938\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T11:52:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T11:52:20","slug":"saudi-weekly-consumer-spending-at-3-8bn-as-education-outlays-soar-134","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/582938\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi weekly consumer spending at $3.8bn as education outlays soar 134%"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tRIYADH: Saudi Arabia\u2019s consumer spending held near $3.8 billion in the week ending Aug. 22, as education-related transactions more than doubled amid the start of the new academic year, official data showed.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Kingdom\u2019s point-of-sale transactions totaled SR14.17 billion ($3.78 billion) during the monitored week, down a marginal 0.1 percent from the previous week, while the number of transactions fell 4.9 percent to 237.35 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe near-flat overall spending masked a dramatic surge in education-related transactions, which jumped 133.9 percent week on week to SR1.04 billion, as the number of education-related transactions climbed 55.7 percent.<\/p>\n

\n\tSpeaking to Arab News, economist Talat Hafiz said that the sharp education spending \u201cis quite normal, reflecting the strong seasonal effect of the back-to-school period, particularly spending on school supplies, clothing, electronics, transportation, and other related services.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe added that while much of this increase is temporary and seasonal, it can provide a meaningful short-term boost to consumer spending and retail activity in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIf consumer confidence and household spending remain resilient beyond the back-to-school period, the broader impact could extend into other segments of the non-oil economy,\u201d he explained, cautioning about interpreting the 134 percent increase as a sustained acceleration in economic activity, since it is partly driven by the low base and the highly seasonal nature of education-related spending.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe key indicator to watch will be whether POS growth remains broad-based and strong after the back-to-school season. In short, I would view it as a positive short-term catalyst rather than, by itself, evidence of a lasting structural increase in consumer demand,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\tSectoral spending<\/p>\n

\n\tAccording to\u00a0SAMA, spending on food and beverages amounted to SR2.11 billion, representing a weekly decline of 4.1 percent.<\/p>\n

\n\tTransactions in restaurants and cafes stood at SR1.67 billion, down 8.6 percent, while spending on apparel, clothing and accessories totaled SR1.26 billion, up 1.7 percent.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe transportation sector witnessed POS transactions worth SR1.04 billion, followed by spending at gas stations at SR960.41 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tAcross healthcare, the value of transactions stood at SR798.52 million, while spending on professional businesses and services amounted to SR800.66 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tBooks and stationery also stood out, with transactions rising 30.2 percent week on week to SR155.18 million.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\tGeographic breakdown<\/p>\n

\n\tRiyadh dominated POS transactions, with spending in the capital reaching SR5.13 billion, marking a 6 percent increase compared with the previous week, even as the number of transactions\u00a0dipped 2.3 percent to 77.93 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tJeddah witnessed transactions amounting to SR1.80 billion, a decline of 4.4 percent, while the total number of transactions stood at 26.22 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn Dammam, consumer\u00a0spending totaled SR712.78 million, up 9.3 percent, followed by Makkah at SR534.04 million and Madinah at SR519.31 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tAlkhobar\u00a0recorded\u00a0SR426.43 million in transactions, up 11.5 percent, while spending in Buraidah and Abha amounted to SR345.52 million and SR225.43 million, respectively, with Abha posting the sharpest citywide decline at 14.4 percent.<\/p>\n

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