Israelis Spend Less on Election Day Holiday Than in 2022
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
Many Israelis spent election day shopping, with overall credit card spending down 15% compared to the 2022 elections. Food and beverages were the largest spending category, while online purchases exceeded in-person ones. Despite lower overall spending, some sectors like fashion and restaurants saw increased transaction values and numbers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli credit card spending on election day was 15% lower than in 2022.
- Food and beverages comprised 59% of election day expenditures.
- Online purchases accounted for 53% of spending, averaging 263 shekels.
- The fashion sector saw a 198% increase in transactions.
- Restaurant transaction values rose 50%, while food delivery transactions dropped 78%.
Many Israelis opted to spend the election day holiday on Tuesday shopping at malls and commercial centers across the country, rather than focusing solely on voting. Data from MAX credit card company indicates a decrease in spending compared to the previous election day in 2022. As of 10 AM on election day, the average spending per card was 202 shekels, approximately 15% less than during the 25th Knesset elections in 2022. Food and beverages accounted for about 59% of total expenditures, followed by entertainment at 16% and clothing and footwear at 10%.
Physical purchases averaged 147 shekels, representing about 47% of all spending, while online purchases made up 53% with an average transaction value of around 263 shekels. Residents of the Galilee and Valleys region led in average spending with 208 shekels per transaction, followed closely by those in the Sharon and Southern Plains at 207 shekels, and residents of Gush Dan and Tel Aviv at 202 shekels.
In contrast, fintech company Hyp reported a 13% increase in the number of transactions by 10 AM compared to the same time last Tuesday. The fashion sector saw the most significant growth, with a 198% rise in transactions and a 17% increase in average deal value, from 278.98 to 326.64 shekels. Restaurants experienced a 10% rise in transaction volume and a 50% increase in average transaction value, from 50 to 75 shekels. However, food delivery services saw a sharp 78% decline in transaction numbers.
