Saudi Weekly Spending Hits SR14.19bn, Education Jumps

Weekly consumer spending in Saudi Arabia reached about SR 14.19 billion (around $3.79 billion) in the week ended 15 August 2026, according to point-of-sale (POS) data. The figure came alongside a sharp rise in education-related spending as families prepared for the new academic year.

The total was 2.8% lower than the previous week's POS value of about SR 14.60 billion (around $3.89 billion). The number of POS transactions in the same week reached 249.68 million, down 1.5% from the prior week.

Education spending climbs sharply

Education sector POS spending rose 62.7% week-on-week to SR 446.08 million, the standout category as the school year approached. The increase reflects tuition fees, school supplies, uniforms, transport, and other schooling costs that households typically face at this time of year.

Education has repeatedly emerged as one of the strongest-growing spending categories across 2024–2026, even in weeks when overall consumer spending was flat or declining. Earlier in April 2026, weekly education spending jumped 797.5% to SR 296.5 million as students returned after the Eid Al-Fitr break, while in June 2026 education expenditure of SR 210.9 million rose 43.2%, and books and stationery spending reached SR 115.8 million, up 8.7%.

At the national level, government budgeted education spending is estimated at about SR 202 billion in 2026, following around SR 199–201 billion in 2025, pointing to broadly stable public spending on education.

For families across Riyadh, Jeddah and beyond, the seasonal spike underlines how the back-to-school period continues to shape household budgets, from fees to uniforms and transport.

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