Israelis can't stop spending: This is the main sector and it's surprising

CBS data for June-August 2026 shows a 5.4% increase in credit card purchases. A notable 17.1% rise in clothing and footwear purchases and an 11% increase in flights and tourism stand out. In contrast, spending on food and beverages rose only 1.4%, and a 3.5% decrease was recorded in fuel, electricity, and gas.

Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics for June through August 2026 indicates a 5.4% increase in total credit card purchases compared to the same period last year, in constant prices. Within the data, the industrial products category stands out, surging by 10.1%, with Israelis particularly increasing spending on clothing and footwear by 17.1%. Conversely, electrical and electronic products saw a 0.3% decrease and furniture purchases a 2% drop. The services sector also recorded a 6.2% increase, with flights, tourism, and hospitality notably rising by 11%. In contrast, the food and beverages sector, which constitutes about 15% of all purchases, saw a modest increase of only 1.4%. The data also shows that Israelis increased purchases of transportation equipment and services by 14.8%, computers and software by 6.9%, and medicine and pharmaceuticals by 2.7%. On the other hand, fuel, electricity, and gas saw a 3.5% decline. The picture emerging from the data is one of continued growth in consumption, but with a shift in spending direction: more money is being directed to clothing, transportation, tourism, and services, while spending on food and beverages is growing at a much more moderate pace.