Israel Sees Surge in Holiday Spending on Flights, Food Ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Israeli credit card spending saw a significant increase in the period leading up to Rosh Hashanah compared to the previous year, according to data released by the national payment system company, SHVA. Experts attribute the rise in spending to Rosh Hashanah falling on a Friday in 2026, a more convenient date for holiday preparations than a Monday in 2025. The proximity of the holiday to the end of August also contributed to the rush, with many Israelis traveling abroad or vacationing domestically, unlike the previous year when the country was at war.

On Friday, September 11, total credit card expenditures within Israel surpassed 1.46 billion shekels, a notable increase from the eve of Rosh Hashanah in 2025. During a single hour, from noon to 1 p.m. on the holiday eve, Israelis spent nearly 200 million shekels, a pace SHVA described as "extremely unusual and high."

Spending in key sectors including air travel, food, electronics, and health products rose by hundreds of millions of shekels, exceeding 5.9 billion shekels in total for the week before the holiday. The travel and tourism sector experienced the most substantial growth, with credit card expenses jumping by nearly a third. Domestic hotel and rental accommodation costs also increased significantly. However, spending on Israeli airlines decreased, likely due to the return of foreign carriers offering more choices to passengers.

Groceries and daily necessities remained the largest spending category, though the growth in this sector was more moderate compared to others. The food industry attributes this to a slower start to the month, with the holiday falling earlier. However, a more noticeable increase in grocery spending was observed when comparing the two weeks prior to the holiday, suggesting that price hikes throughout 2025 also contributed to the rise, in addition to holiday shopping.

Spending also increased in delicatessens, butcher shops, bakeries, convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes. Expenditures on clothing and footwear rose more than on food, while the largest increases were seen in leisure and entertainment, pharmacy and cosmetic products, and home appliances and electronics.