Credit card purchases are surging: this is the sector where Israelis won't stop buying
Central Bureau of Statistics data indicate a 2.2% increase in credit card purchases, alongside a jump in spending on transportation, clothing, and government services, and a decline in leisure and food.
Consumers in Israel continue to increase their use of credit cards, but the pace of growth in purchases is moderating. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics for the months of May to July 2026 indicate an annual increase of 2.2% in total credit card purchases, in constant prices.
This is a more moderate pace compared to previous periods during the year. Between January and July, an increase of 8.3% was recorded, while in the period between February and April, the increase totaled 5.2%. The data point to a shift in the public's consumption patterns and significant gaps between sectors.
In industrial products, an increase of 5.3% was recorded, with clothing and footwear standing out with a jump of 12.3%. Conversely, purchases of electrical appliances and electronics fell by 3.4%, and purchases in the furniture sector fell by 1.5%.
The services group also showed an increase, at a rate of 3%. Government and local authority services jumped by 10.6%, while flights, tourism, and hospitality rose by 4.9%. On the other hand, spending on leisure and entertainment plummeted by 8.8%, and spending on insurance fell by 1%.
The sharpest increase was recorded in the field of equipment and transportation services, with a growth of 13.9%. Equipment and communication services also rose by 4.1%, and medical services and medicines strengthened by 3.7%. Conversely, spending on fuel, electricity, and gas fell by 6.8%.
The food and beverage sector, which also includes food services and restaurants, was the only group in which an overall decline was recorded, at a rate of 0.8%.
Historical data indicate volatility in recent years. In 2023, purchases rose by only 1.4%, in 2024 a jump of 9.8% was recorded, and in 2025 an increase of 6.5% was recorded.
In terms of the weight of purchases, the group of other products and services is the largest and accounts for 45.3% of all credit card purchases. Services account for 20.3%, industrial products 19.6%, and food and beverages 14.8%.
The data are based on reports from all credit card companies in Israel and refer to transactions made by Israelis within the country. The calculations are made in constant prices, deducting the effect of the price index, and using statistical methods for seasonal adjustment.
