Israelis are spending more – main expense items named

In September 2026, Israeli credit card spending reached a record 53.252 billion shekels, a 6.2% increase compared to the previous year. The main growth was in leisure, hotels, and restaurants, linked to the Jewish holidays. Online purchases also set a new record.

In September 2026, Israeli credit card spending hit a record 53.252 billion shekels, up 6.2% from the same period last year. Average daily spending was 1.775 billion shekels, surpassing the previous August record by 1.7%. The data was published by SHABA, the company managing the national card payment system. The main driver of growth was the Jewish holidays of the month of Tishrei, which this year fell entirely in September, including the intermediate days of Sukkot. This boosted spending on travel, entertainment, and dining out. Spending on leisure and entertainment rose 17.78% (to 319.2 million shekels), hotels by 17.59% (over 1.17 billion), and restaurants and cafes by 11% (3.639 billion). Online purchases also set a record at 30.961 billion shekels (+5.5%). Meanwhile, spending in physical stores fell 2% compared to August but rose 7.2% year-over-year. Israelis are withdrawing less cash: the volume of transactions dropped 1.8% to 5.612 billion shekels. The author notes that the increase in monetary spending does not necessarily mean higher consumption, as the statistics are affected by rising prices and the cost of goods.