Israel Credit Card Spending Hits Record 1.775 Billion NIS Daily in September
Israel's credit card spending hit a record daily average of 1.775 billion NIS in September 2026, driven by holiday tourism, online shopping, and surging fuel costs.
September 2026 set a new record for average daily credit card spending in Israel, reaching 1.775 billion NIS—a 1.7% increase compared to the previous record set in August 2026. According to SHVA (Automated Bank Services), the month was entirely dominated by the Tishrei holidays, including a full week of Chol HaMoed.
Surge in Holiday Spending and Online Retail
Total credit card spending in September 2026 reached 53.252 billion NIS, marking a 6.2% increase compared to 50.132 billion NIS in September 2025. The most significant categories driving this growth included leisure and entertainment, which surged by 17.78% to 319.248 million NIS, and domestic hospitality, up 17.59% to 1.174 billion NIS.
"The concentration of all Tishrei holidays within September, alongside a full week of Chol HaMoed, significantly boosted consumer activity, particularly in online transactions and holiday travel," industry data shows.
Online spending reached an average of 30.961 billion NIS for the month, with daily online purchases peaking at an unprecedented 1.032 billion NIS. Conversely, average daily spending at physical storefronts dropped by 2% to 743.062 million NIS compared to August.
Fuel Expenses and Price Hikes
Fuel spending rose by 8.39% to 1.913 billion NIS, driven by higher prices and increased travel distances during the holidays. Additionally, consumers continued a trend of panic-buying fuel during the final two days of each month to beat anticipated price hikes, contributing to a cumulative 42% increase in late-month fuel expenditures since June.
