Israeli Election Day Spending Surges to 250 Million Shekels by Mid-Morning
Data from payment giants SHVA and Hyp shows Israelis spent 250.78 million shekels between 8:00 and 11:00 AM on election day, marking a 26.5% surge from the previous Knesset vote.
Israelis headed to the ballot boxes on Tuesday for the 26th Knesset elections, combining their civic duty with a massive shopping and leisure spree, according to official data released by payment giants.
Data from Automated Bank Services (SHVA), which manages Israel's national payment system, shows that between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, total consumer spending reached 250.78 million shekels. This represents a dramatic 26.5% surge compared to the same hours during the 25th Knesset elections on November 1, 2022, when spending stood at 198.31 million shekels. Compared to the municipal elections on January 30, 2024, which recorded 226.81 million shekels, spending rose by 10.6%.
Peak shopping pressure on payment terminals was recorded precisely at 10:57 AM, with transactions hitting 2.39 million shekels in a single minute at a rate exceeding 11,300 transactions per minute.
Fashion and Dining Surge
Fintech firm Hyp reported a broad 13% increase in total market transactions by 10:00 AM compared to the previous Tuesday. The clothing and fashion sector led the buying festival, registering a meteoric 198% jump in transactions alongside a 17% increase in the average basket size, rising from 278.98 shekels last week to 326.64 shekels.
The national holiday also boosted the culinary sector. Restaurants and cafes saw a 10% increase in transactions and a dramatic 50% jump in average transaction value, rising from 50 shekels to 75 shekels as citizens combined voting with celebratory breakfasts.
Conversely, food delivery apps suffered a severe 78% plunge in transactions as citizens abandoned home delivery in favor of physical outings and shopping centers.
