Consumer Price Index Falls 0.3% in May as Rents Rise

Israel's Consumer Price Index fell 0.3% in May compared with April 2026, the Central Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday. Inflation was unchanged at 1.9%.

The sharpest monthly price drops were in fresh fruit, down 4.9%, transportation, down 2.7%, and furniture and household equipment, down 0.1%. Larger increases were seen in clothing, up 1.9%, and in culture and entertainment events, up 1.1%.

Housing data showed that apartment prices for transactions completed in April and at the end of March fell 0.3% compared with sales in February and early March. By region, prices fell 2% in Jerusalem, 1.9% in Haifa, 0.9% in the South District, and 0.2% in the North District. Prices rose 0.2% in the Center District and 0.7% in Tel Aviv.

Rents continued to climb. Tenants renewing leases paid 2.5% more, while new tenants, in apartments where tenants changed, paid 6.8% more.