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Israeli Food Prices Soar Nearly 20% in Four Years, Study Finds
A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers has revealed that the cost of a fixed basket of 80 popular food items in Israel rose nearly five times faster between September 2022 and August 2026 compared to the preceding four-year period. The sharpest price hikes occurred in neighborhood convenience stores and online shopping, which saw increases of 19.6% and 19% respectively, while discount chains experienced a 14.5% rise.
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What happened
- 01A Tel Aviv University study found that Israeli food basket prices rose nearly five times faster between September 2022 and August 2026 than in the previous four years.
- 02The average cost of a basket of 80 popular grocery items increased by over 220 shekels during the recent four-year period compared to about 50 shekels previously.
- 03Neighborhood convenience stores and online shopping platforms saw the steepest price hikes, rising by 19.6% and 19% respectively.
- 04Shufersal Deal led the retail price surge with a 22.7% increase, while Rami Levy remained the cheapest chain despite a 10.3% price rise.
- 05A 100-gram bar of Pardah chocolate rose by about 78% in neighborhood stores, and an 800-gram package of Maadanat cheese borekas increased by about 31%.
- 06Researchers attributed the price hikes to general inflation of 12.5%, rising production costs, and a lack of government intervention and public attention during the war.
Among individual supermarket chains, Shufersal Deal led the retail price surge with a 22.7% increase in its basket price, representing an additional 231 shekels. Shufersal Sheli and Fresh Market prices rose by 19.6%, Victory prices increased by approximately 16%, and Rami Levy remained the cheapest chain despite a 10.3% price increase. Specific products also saw dramatic jumps, such as a 100-gram bar of Pardah chocolate rising by about 78% in neighborhood stores and an 800-gram package of Maadanat cheese borekas increasing by about 31%.
Researchers Professor Itai Ater and doctoral student Adi Omer attributed the surge to several factors, including general inflation of approximately 12.5%, VAT increases, and rising costs for municipal taxes, water, electricity, and regulated goods. However, they also highlighted a regulatory and public vacuum, noting that a lack of government focus on the cost of living and reduced public attention, particularly during the war, allowed companies to capitalize and raise prices.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 6 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: NEWSru Israel. Read NEWSru Israel’s original
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