Israeli Consumers Spend Over 162 Billion Shekels in Three Months

Israeli consumers spent more than 162 billion shekels using bank credit cards during July, August, and September. Transactions in July and August alone exceeded 109 billion shekels, with September's credit card purchases reaching approximately 53.25 billion shekels. Online shopping in September accounted for about 30.96 billion shekels, averaging over a billion shekels daily. Spending on entertainment saw a significant increase of 17.8% in September, followed by hotels at 17.6%, restaurants and cafes at 11%, and travel agencies at 10%. Grocery purchases totaled around 6.64 billion shekels in September. Fuel expenditures also rose, with Israelis spending approximately 1.91 billion shekels in September, an 8.4% increase. A notable surge in gasoline purchases occurred in the last two days of September, before a price hike, totaling 177.5 million shekels for those two days. The rise in spending is attributed to the Jewish holiday season, which includes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, a period typically marked by increased consumer activity.