RIYADH — The Kingdom’s e-sales index rose 9.8 percent in Q2 2026 compared with the same quarter of 2025, led by a 13.4 percent increase in retail trade, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). According to GASTAT’s Wholesale and Retail Trade Statistics Bulletin for the second quarter of 2026, the operating revenue index also increased by 3.2 percent year-on-year, while the employee compensation index rose by 9 percent, driven by a 10.8 percent increase in employee compensation in retail trade. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, the operating revenue index increased by 5.2 percent in retail trade, 2.7 percent in motor vehicle sales and repair, and 0.8 percent in wholesale trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles. On a quarterly basis, the operating revenue index declined by 0.6 percent compared with the first quarter of 2026. The e-sales index also increased by 6.5 percent in wholesale trade and 2.4 percent in motor vehicle sales and repair compared with the second quarter of 2025. On a quarterly basis, the e-sales index rose by 1.1 percent in retail trade, 0.3 percent in wholesale trade, and 0.1 percent in motor vehicle sales and repair. The car sales index rose by 0.6 percent compared with the second quarter of 2025 and by 0.9 percent quarter-on-quarter compared with the first quarter of 2026. GASTAT’s Wholesale and Retail Trade Statistics Bulletin provides short-term economic data to measure the performance of the Kingdom’s wholesale and retail trade sector.
