Consumer spending via POS transactions jumps 13% to SAR 113.8 bln in March: SAMA

02/05/2022 Argaam Special
POS device

POS device


Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia rose 13% to nearly SAR 113.8 billion in March, from SAR 100.8 billion during the same month last year, according to the Saudi Central Bank's (SAMA) monthly bulletin.

 

Consumer spending includes total cash withdrawals, point-of-sale (POS) sales and e-commerce sales through “Mada” as the following table shows:

 

Consumer Spending (SAR bln)

Month

2021

2022

Change

January

93.62

97.61

+ 4%

February

80.23

88.57

+ 10%

March

100.81

113.81

+ 13%

April

96.07

--

--

May

95.53

--

--

June

91.33

--

--

July

93.42

--

--

August

94.65

--

--

September

92.71

--

--

October

94.75

--

--

November

95.02

--

--

December

101.36

--

--

 

 

POS transactions leapt 25% to SAR 51 billion in March from SAR 40.84 billion in the same month last year.

 

Data showed that a total of 602.2 million transactions were processed through 1.14 million POS devices in March.

 

POS transactions represent what is spent by consumers using their ATM cards and credit cards in shopping malls, retail stores, pharmacies, etc.

 

The following table shows the development of POS transactions:

 

POS Transactions (SAR bln)

Month

2021

2022

Change

January

37.27

43.56

+17%

February

31.05

38.88

+25%

March

40.84

51.00

+25%

April

39.17

--

--

May

40.27

--

--

June

38.70

--

--

July

38.85

--

--

August

40.97

--

--

September

40.00

--

--

October

40.47

--

--

November

41.28

--

--

December

44.37

--

--

 

 

Cash withdrawals saw a decrease of3% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 52.8 billion in March.

 

Compared to February, cash withdrawals in March surged by nearly SAR 11.2 billion, the highest level in one year.

 

The withdrawals were processed through 16,500 ATMs and through 134.2 million transactions.

 

ATM Withdrawals (SAR bln)

Month

2020

2021

Change

January

51.97

45.82

(12%)

February

45.01

41.67

(7%)

March

54.66

52.83

(3%)

April

51.35

--

--

May

49.52

--

--

June

46.74

--

--

July

48.24

--

--

August

46.81

--

--

September

45.69

--

--

October

47.11

--

--

November

46.02

--

--

December

48.83

--

--

 

 

E-commerce sales through Mada cards increased to SAR 9.98 billion in March, an 88% increase compared to the same period in 2021.

 

According to SAMA's monthly bulletin, these sales were made through 47.6 million transactions.

 

E-commerce sales include Mada cards payment and purchase transactions through shopping websites and online applications, but do not include transactions made through Visa, MasterCard and other credit cards.

 

Sales Through Mada Cards (SAR bln)

Period

2021

2022

Change

January

4.38

8.23

+88%

February

4.17

8.02

+92%

March

5.31

9.98

+88%

April

5.56

--

--

May

5.74

--

--

June

5.89

--

--

July

6.33

--

--

August

6.87

--

--

September

7.02

--

--

October

7.17

--

--

November

7.72

--

--

December

8.16

--

--

 

 

 

Details and Historical Data of Consumer Spending

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