RIYADH
Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale transactions climbed 13.4 percent in the week ending April 4 to SR14.7 billion ($3.9 billion), amid a sharp surge in education spending. The number of transactions saw a weekly rise of 12.1 percent to 246.5 million, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank. Education recorded the strongest growth, with outlays soaring 797.5 percent to SR296.5 million and transactions in the segment increasing 258 percent. This came as students went back to classrooms after the Eid Al-Fitr break. Expenditure on medical services saw a rise of 69.4 percent to SR534.48 million, while spending on spare parts saw a 57.6 percent increase. Outlays on pharmacies and medical supplies climbed 13.5 percent to SR247.57 million, while personal care expenditure rose 3.1 percent to SR137.97 million.
