Nearly 20% more for the same shopping basket: Which chain saw the biggest price hikes?

A new Tel Aviv University study reveals that the price of a basket of 80 popular products has increased by nearly 20% over the past four years, with significant gaps between chains. Shufersal Deal leads with a 22.7% surge, while Rami Levy recorded a relatively moderate increase of 10.3%. Researcher Prof. Itai Ater argues that the cost of living is not inevitable and requires government intervention.

A new study by the Faculty of Management at Tel Aviv University, published this morning (Sunday), reveals that the prices of a basket of 80 popular products have increased by nearly 20% over the past four years (September 2022 to August 2026), compared to a rise of only about 4% in the four years prior. The increase is evident across all shopping channels: 19.6% in neighborhood stores, 19% online, and 14.5% at discount chains. Among chains, Shufersal Deal leads with a 22.7% jump (231 shekels per basket), compared to 0.6% in the previous period. Shufersal Sheli and Freshmarket each recorded a 19.6% increase, Victory rose by 16%, and Rami Levy by only 10.3%. Online gaps were also noted: Shufersal Online rose by 24%, Victory by 18.6%, and Rami Levy by 14.1%. Prof. Itai Ater notes that the causes of the increases include a VAT hike, rising property taxes, water, fuel, and electricity costs, along with increases in regulated products. However, he emphasizes that the strengthening of the shekel and the decline in global food prices should have mitigated the increases, so the cost of living is not inevitable. He says that government mobilization, structural reforms, and addressing power centers are needed.