Education Spending Jumps 133.9% Before New Term

Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia reached about SAR 14.17 billion (roughly USD 3.78 billion) in the week ending 22 August 2026, as families prepared for the new academic term with a sharp rise in education-related purchases across the Kingdom.

Education-related point-of-sale payments totaled SAR 1.04 billion during that week, a 133.9% jump in spending compared with the previous week, while the number of education-related transactions rose 55.7%. The education sector recorded the sharpest increase among all tracked spending categories, driven by back-to-school buys such as school supplies, clothing, electronics, transportation, and related services.

Overall, the week saw 237.35 million POS transactions, down 4.9% from the previous week, with total spending slipping just 0.1%. The figures reflect card-based and electronic POS payments at merchants coded under the education category, and do not include cash or bank transfers.

The back-to-school surge has been building through August. In the week ending 1 August, total POS spending reached SAR 16.3 billion, with education outlays up 69.9% to SAR 177.8 million. During 9–15 August, education spending climbed 62.7% to SAR 446 million, with Riyadh leading total consumer spending at SAR 4.84 billion, followed by Jeddah at SAR 1.88 billion.

For residents and families, the numbers offer a clear picture of a familiar seasonal rhythm: spending on essentials for children peaks just before the school year begins. The steady shift toward electronic and card payments also underscores how everyday purchases in Riyadh, Jeddah, and other cities are increasingly moving through digital channels.

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