Consumer spending stays above $3bn as food and beverages sector leads

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia remained strong with POS transactions totaling SR13.52 billion ($3.6 billion) for the week ending October 10, despite an 18.1 percent decline from the previous week. This sustained activity supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of promoting a cashless economy and signals resilient domestic demand driven by a youthful, urban population across diverse sectors.

Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia remained robust above $3 billion for the week ending October 10, with point-of-sale (POS) transactions reaching SR13.52 billion ($3.6 billion), according to data released by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

The food and beverages sector continued to lead consumer expenditure, recording transactions worth SR2.29 billion despite a 22.9 percent decline from the previous week. Overall, the total value of POS transactions decreased by 18.1 percent week on week, while the number of transactions fell by 7.5 percent to 253.35 million.

This sustained level of spending reflects ongoing consumer confidence and aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative, which is aimed at encouraging the transition to a cashless economy. This effort is part of the Financial Sector Development Program, which seeks to bolster the adoption of digital payment methods across the country.

Industry experts highlighted the broader implications of the data. Olivier de Colnet (also reported as Olivier de Cointet), senior adviser in consumer and retail at Arthur D Little, noted that despite the weekly dip, last week’s POS transaction value was only 5.2 percent below the average of the prior three weeks, and remained higher than levels seen in mid-September. De Colnet emphasized the role of Saudi Arabia’s large, youthful, and increasingly urban population in underpinning structural consumption growth, while pointing out that spending remained healthy across various sectors including food, dining, mobility, and healthcare. This suggests continued resilience in domestic demand even amid regional uncertainties.

Breaking down sectoral spending, the report showed that transactions in restaurants and cafes amounted to SR1.7 billion, marking a 9.9 percent decrease from the previous week. Gas stations accounted for SR1.03 billion in spending, while apparel, clothing, and accessories reached SR1.02 billion. Other notable sectors included transportation at SR966.21 million, healthcare at SR882.16 million, and professional and business services at SR756.5 million.

Regionally, Riyadh led in POS transaction values with SR4.81 billion, though spending in the capital dropped by 14.4 percent compared to the previous week, alongside a 4.8 percent decrease in transaction volume to 85.7 million. Jeddah followed with SR1.8 billion in transactions and 28.23 million transactions overall. Dammam recorded spending of approximately SR683.7 million (one source reported SR693.7 million), while Makkah and Madinah posted SR538.74 million and SR518.64 million respectively.

The data underscores the steady movement toward electronic payments and highlights steady consumer engagement across multiple sectors, reinforcing the broader economic development goals outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.