Israelis Spend Record NIS 1.46 Billion on Credit Cards Before Rosh Hashanah

Israelis spent a record 1.462 billion shekels (approximately $395 million USD) on credit cards the day before Rosh Hashanah, according to data from Shva, the national payment systems operator. This represents a 10.3% increase compared to the NIS 1.325 billion spent on the same day in the previous year.

During the peak shopping hours on Friday, consumers made purchases at a rate of approximately 200 million shekels per hour. Between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM alone, citizens spent a total of NIS 197.131 million.

The surge in spending was not concentrated in the food sector. While supermarkets saw a modest 2.3% increase in the week leading up to the holiday, and restaurants, cafes, and fast-food establishments rose by 3.4%, delis, butcher shops, and bakeries experienced a 2.3% increase.

More significant growth was observed in other sectors. Tourism, including hotels and travel agencies, saw a substantial jump, with travel agencies reporting a 27.8% increase and hotels and guest houses up by 5.3%. Electrical and electronics stores recorded a 9.7% rise in sales, the pharmaceutical sector grew by 8%, and the clothing and footwear industry saw a 4% increase.