Saudi Arabia: Spending by parents of schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia boosted card transactions to SR207.3 million ($55.2 million) between Dec. 29 and Jan. 4, marking a 25.8 percent increase compared to the previous week.

The surge came as students prepare to return to schools following the mid-year break, which ends on Jan. 12.

According to the weekly point-of-sale transactions bulletin, this sector recorded the largest positive change over the seven-day period. It also witnessed growth in terms of the number of transactions, edging up by 0.6 percent to reach 131,000.

Overall, Saudi Arabia’s POS spending registered a weekly increase of 9.2 percent, reaching SR15.1 billion, up from SR13.8 billion the week before. Figures from the Kingdom’s central bank showed that the hotel sector saw the second-largest gain at 15.1 percent to SR400.6 million. 

Spending on recreation and culture followed, recording a 14.8 percent uptick to SR328.6 million. 

Transactions on jewelry recorded an increase of 12.8 percent to reach SR355.4 million, and expenditure on construction and building materials surged by 3.9 percent to SR399.9 million.

Similarly, spending on food and beverages also grew 3.9 percent to SR2.16 billion, claiming the biggest share of the total POS value.

Expenditure in restaurants and cafes followed, recording a 10.1 percent increase to SR2.13 billion.

Spending on miscellaneous goods and services accounted for the third biggest POS share, with a 12.3 percent uptick, reaching SR1.8 billion.

Transactions in the leading three categories accounted for approximately 40.8 percent or SR6.1 billion of the week’s total value.

At 2.8 percent, the smallest increase occurred in spending on gas electronics, leading total payments to reach SR176 million. 

Expenditures on transportation increased by 6.5 percent to SR140 million, while spending on public utilities surged by 7.3 percent to reach SR57.5 million.

Geographically, Riyadh dominated POS sales, representing around 33.8 percent of the total, with expenses in the capital reaching SR5.1 billion — a 7 percent decrease from the previous week. 

Jeddah followed with a 13.1 percent surge to SR2.1 billion, and Dammam came in third at SR755 million, up 8.5 percent.

Buraidah experienced the most significant surge in spending, increasing 13.5 percent to SR358.7 million. 

Tabuk and Abha recorded increases of 5.5 percent and 9.4 percent, reaching SR285.3 million and SR170.5 million, respectively.

Makkah and Jeddah saw the largest increases in terms of number of transactions, surging 11 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, to 9.6 million and 27.4 million transactions.