Israel Sees Record Spending on Election Day
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Israelis spent a record 1.752 billion shekels on the recent Knesset election day, a 30.2% increase from the previous election. Spending peaked between 8 AM and 5 PM, reaching 1.149 billion shekels. The largest increases were seen in leisure and entertainment, followed by restaurants and cafes. Supermarkets remained the largest spending category.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli spending on election day hit a record 1.752 billion shekels.
- Expenditures rose 30.2% compared to the previous Knesset election in 2022.
- Leisure, entertainment, and attractions saw the largest spending increase at 72.32%.
- Restaurants and cafes experienced a 53.89% surge in consumer spending.
- Supermarkets accounted for the highest total spending among all sectors.
Israelis significantly increased their spending on election day for the 26th Knesset, with total expenditures reaching 1.752 billion shekels. This represents a sharp 30.2% rise compared to the previous Knesset elections held on November 1, 2022, when spending amounted to 1.346 billion shekels. The spending on the recent election day also surpassed that of the municipal elections on January 30, 2024, by 10.2%, which saw 1.591 billion shekels spent.
Data from Shva, the national payment system operator, revealed peak activity between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on election day, with expenditures totaling 1.149 billion shekels. This is substantially higher than the 808.51 million shekels recorded during the same hours in the previous Knesset election and 1.011 billion shekels during the municipal elections.
The surge in spending was most pronounced in leisure, entertainment, and attractions, which saw a dramatic 72.32% increase, reaching 19.141 million shekels. Restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets also experienced a significant jump of 53.89%, totaling 181.365 million shekels.
Other sectors also reported notable increases. Delicatessens, convenience stores, and kiosks saw a 48.98% rise in spending. The pharmaceutical sector grew by 33.49%, while clothing and footwear increased by 26.27%. Supermarkets, which represent the largest spending category, saw a 24.15% increase, reaching 238.196 million shekels.
Additional sectors also showed growth compared to the 2022 elections, including hospitality (up 15.72%), fuel (up 14.02%), and electricity and electronics (up 11.39%).
