Israeli Credit Card Spending Slows but Shows Sectoral Shifts

Consumer spending via credit cards in Israel is increasing, though the pace of growth has moderated. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics for May to July 2026 indicates a 2.2% year-over-year rise in credit card purchases at constant prices, a slower rate compared to earlier periods in the year. From January to July, spending grew by 8.3%, and from February to April, it rose by 5.2%.

The data reveals significant shifts in consumer patterns across different sectors. Industrial goods saw a 5.3% increase, with clothing and footwear experiencing a notable 12.3% surge. Conversely, purchases of electrical and electronic goods declined by 3.4%, and furniture sales dropped by 1.5%.

Services also showed an overall increase of 3%. Government and local authority services jumped by 10.6%, while flights, tourism, and hospitality rose by 4.9%. However, spending on leisure and entertainment plummeted by 8.8%, and insurance costs decreased by 1%.

The largest increase was observed in transportation equipment and services, up 13.9%. Communication equipment and services grew by 4.1%, and medical services and pharmaceuticals increased by 3.7%. In contrast, expenditures on fuel, electricity, and gas fell by 6.8%. The food and beverage sector, including restaurants, was the only category to record an overall decrease, down 0.8%.

Historical data shows fluctuations, with credit card purchases rising only 1.4% in 2023, jumping 9.8% in 2024, and increasing 6.5% in 2025. The largest spending category remains "other products and services" at 45.3% of total credit card purchases, followed by services (20.3%), industrial goods (19.6%), and food and beverages (14.8%). These figures are based on reports from all Israeli credit card companies for transactions made by Israelis within the country, calculated at constant prices and adjusted for seasonality.