RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions reached SR17 billion ($4.5 billion) in the week ending Jan. 3, with all sectors recording positive weekly growth.
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, the total POS value represented a 30.6 percent week-on-week increase, while the number of transactions rose 15.7 percent to 255.36 million.
Spending on freight transport, postal and courier services recorded the sharpest increase, surging 110.9 percent to SR74.22 million, followed by education, which rose 66.4 percent to SR235.51 million.
Expenditure on personal care increased by 31.7 percent, while spending on books and stationery rose 36 percent. Jewelry outlays climbed 48 percent to SR544.12 million.
Further gains were recorded across other categories. Spending at pharmacies on medical supplies rose 42.1 percent to SR284.81 million, while expenditure on medical services increased 20.8 percent to SR556.27 million.
