Israeli Election Days See Surge in Consumer Spending
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Israeli election days have become major shopping events, with credit card spending reaching over 1.3 billion shekels in the 2022 elections. This trend shows a consistent increase in consumer activity, with spending up to 20% higher than average weekdays. Retailers and malls offer special promotions, and sectors like food, dining, and leisure see significant boosts during these holidays.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli election days see consumer spending reach billions of shekels on credit cards.
- Credit card spending in the 2022 elections totaled 1.346 billion shekels.
- Consumer activity on election days is 10% to 20% higher than average weekdays.
- Retailers and malls offer special promotions to attract shoppers on election days.
- Food, dining, and leisure sectors experience significant boosts in spending.
- Election days are national holidays where most businesses remain open.
Israeli election days, which are national holidays, have become significant shopping events, with consumer spending on credit cards reaching billions of shekels. Data from Shva, which operates Israel's credit card payment system, shows a marked increase in transactions on election days compared to regular Tuesdays. Unlike other holidays that may limit commercial activity, most businesses remain open on election days, allowing Israelis to engage in shopping and leisure.
In the 25th Knesset elections on November 1, 2022, credit card spending totaled 1.346 billion shekels. This represents a 7.8% increase from the March 2021 elections (1.249 billion shekels) and a 13% rise compared to the March 2020 elections (1.191 billion shekels).
"Election days, which are a holiday for the economy, are peak days for public consumer activity," stated Tali Holmberg, VP of Marketing, Business Development and Sales at Shva. She noted that in the November 2022 elections, high business activity and public spending were observed across major consumer sectors, including food, apparel, electronics, and even tourism.
Retailers and shopping malls actively promote special offers and events to attract consumers on election days. In the 2024 local authority elections, consumer activity was 18.6% higher than the daily average for that year. Historically, election days see a 10% to 20% increase in spending compared to an average weekday, with restaurants, cafes, and fast-food chains benefiting significantly. Future election days are expected to continue this trend, with concentrated spending in retail, dining, and leisure sectors.
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