Israeli Consumer Basket Prices Soar 20% Over Four Years

A basket of 80 common products saw its price increase by nearly 20% between September 2022 and August 2026, according to a study attributed to researchers at Tel Aviv University's Coller School of Management. This represents a significant acceleration compared to the 4.3% price hike observed in the four years prior. The study analyzed price data from approximately 700 branches of major supermarket chains, factoring in sales and discounts. Online shopping saw a similar 19% cost increase for the basket, while discount stores experienced a 14.5% rise. However, price increases varied considerably between chains. "Shufersal Sheli" and "Fresh Market" recorded the highest jump at 19.6%, while "Rami Levy" and "Yochananov" saw increases of 10.3% and 8.5% respectively. Among specific items, a 100-gram "Para" chocolate bar's price surged by approximately 78%, and cheese borekas increased by about 31%. The study emphasizes that these figures do not imply uniform price hikes across all products or stores. For consumers, the cumulative effect of these price increases on frequently purchased items can reduce disposable income available for housing, transportation, and other necessities. The article notes that it remains necessary to compare prices in local stores, particularly in Arab towns, to understand if these increases affect all consumers similarly, as differences between chains do not automatically reflect individual consumer spending.