Israeli Credit Card Spending Hits Record High in September

Total spending on credit cards in Israel reached 53.25 billion shekels in September 2026, a 6.2% increase compared to the same month last year, when spending was approximately 50.13 billion shekels. This represents an increase of about 3.12 billion shekels in a year, according to data from Shva, the company managing national card and ATM payment systems.

The most notable figure is the daily average spending, which stood at approximately 1.775 billion shekels per day in September, the highest ever recorded. This is a 1.7% rise from August's average of 1.746 billion shekels per day. September marked the fourth consecutive month where the average daily spending exceeded 1.7 billion shekels, with the new record slightly surpassing the previous high set in July.

The increase in spending was particularly pronounced in leisure and vacation-related sectors. Spending on recreation and entertainment rose by 17.8% in September compared to the previous year, reaching about 319 million shekels. Hotels and accommodations saw a 17.6% increase, totaling approximately 1.17 billion shekels. Spending in restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets grew by 11% to about 3.64 billion shekels, while travel agencies experienced a 10.1% rise to approximately 1.13 billion shekels.

In contrast, spending growth in grocery chains was more moderate, with an increase of 2.7% to about 6.64 billion shekels. Apparel and footwear spending increased by 7.5% to approximately 2.77 billion shekels, and spending on electricity and electronics rose by 5.3% to about 2.93 billion shekels.

Online spending also set a new daily record, with total online transactions reaching approximately 30.96 billion shekels in September, a 5.5% increase from the previous year. The daily average for online spending was about 1.032 billion shekels, a new record, though only slightly higher than the previous record set in July. Shva noted that these figures reflect monetary spending and do not necessarily indicate an equivalent increase in the volume of goods and services purchased, partly due to price fluctuations.