inflation

ָָָA sign declares an upcoming construction project in the Gonen neighborhood of Jerusalem, January 2020. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

June 15, 2023, 10:41 pm

Housing prices dip slightly but remain about 10% higher than in 2022

Annual rises in rents, mortgage payments make housing increasingly expensive compared to average salaries and consumer prices

By Danielle Nagler

A man shops for groceries at a Rami Levy supermarket in Jerusalem on February 3, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 15, 2023, 9:48 pm

Israeli inflation lower than forecast in May, boosting odds of rate hike pause

Consumer price index surprises with lower-than-expected monthly figure of 0.2% versus analysts’ expectations of 0.5%-0.6%

By Sharon Wrobel

Construction in Holon, May 2020. (100 via iStock by Getty Images)

June 14, 2023, 3:08 pm

Real estate transactions plummet close to 20-year low in stalled housing market

The number of residences changing hands hits record lows in April, down 55% from last year, as prices and borrowing costs climb

By Danielle Nagler

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, in the center of Tel Aviv, December 25, 2018. (Adam Shuldman/Flash90)

June 7, 2023, 7:00 pm

Shekel returns to gains amid cautious market optimism over judicial compromise bid

Recent comments by government representatives and selection process of judicial panel bring some confidence back to Israeli markets, erasing most of the losses of the past 2 weeks

By Sharon Wrobel

A illustrative view from Mount Carmel of the Haifa port and the Mediterranean Sea, January 2021. (Svarshik via iStock by Getty Images)

June 7, 2023, 10:05 am

OECD projects more moderate growth for Israel, citing judicial overhaul tensions risk

International economic organization slightly lowers Israeli GDP forecast to 2.9% in 2023 and 3.3% in 2024, notes underperformance of shekel and local stock market

By Sharon Wrobel

File: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at the plenum hall of the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on May 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 5, 2023, 1:49 pm

Likud minister slams ‘out of touch, elitist’ Smotrich over soaring cost of living

In scathing broadside, Netanyahu ally Shlomo Karhi pans government’s daycare subsidies for working parents as only benefiting rich people, says he’s lost faith in finance minister

By ToI Staff

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron speaks during a press conference at the Bank of Israel in Jerusalem, January 2, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 22, 2023, 7:15 pm

As inflation persists, Bank of Israel hikes interest rates for 10th time, to 4.75%

Central bank lifts borrowing costs by 25 basis points, citing inflation above 5% and a tight labor market; sees signs of moderation in economic activity

By Sharon Wrobel

A shopping cart at the Rami Levy supermarket in Modiin on July 21, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

May 15, 2023, 10:02 pm

Israel consumer price index surprises with higher-than-expected April figure up 0.8%

Rise of almost double the forecast sets up Bank of Israel for another interest rate hike next week, as central bank battles inflationary pressure, economists say

By Sharon Wrobel

In this handout photo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrive for a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 23, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

April 15, 2023, 11:41 pm

PM’s associates reject Moody’s downgrade: ‘They aren’t well-versed on the issues’

Netanyahu, Smotrich in statement: ‘With God’s help’ economy will remain strong; sources close to PM claim agency ‘affected by the atmosphere, friends in Israel telling them tales’

By ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrive at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 23, 2023. (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool)

April 15, 2023, 4:51 pm

‘Economic earthquake’: Opposition lashes government after Moody’s downgrade

Lapid says ‘everything falling apart’ under current leadership; Liberman: Netanyahu ‘destroying economy’; Labor’s Lazimi slams ‘parade of false narratives’

By ToI Staff and Sharon Wrobel

A sign for Moody's Corp. in New York, August 13, 2010. (AP Photo/ Mark Lennihan/ File)

April 15, 2023, 1:19 am

Moody’s downgrades Israel’s credit outlook, citing ‘deterioration of governance’

Leading credit agency demotes outlook from positive to stable despite reported talks with PM, Herzog on overhaul compromise; keeps credit rating at A1 amid ‘strong economic growth’

By Sharon Wrobel and ToI Staff

New buildings going up in Beer Yaakov on March 26, 2020. (Flash90)

April 14, 2023, 9:58 pm

Home prices slide for first time in years, but inflation remains steady

Central Bureau of Statistics says consumer price index rose by 0.4% in March over the previous month, but sees real estate costs dropping 0.2% as interest rates go up

By ToI Staff

An illustrative photo of the Tel Aviv financial business district skyline. (Elijah Lovkoff via iStock by Getty Images)

April 13, 2023, 5:06 pm

Market braces for downgrade of Moody’s Israel credit outlook amid judicial jitters

Shekel continues to depreciate amid investor concern that, following credit agency’s earlier warnings, outlook could be changed from positive to stable in coming days

By Sharon Wrobel

A building under construction in Jerusalem on November 10, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 16, 2023, 10:13 pm

Tel Aviv, Jerusalem housing prices fall as mortgage borrowing hits four-year low

Housing market shows a slowdown as prices stabilize; volume of real estate transactions down 39% year-on-year

By Danielle Nagler

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads a Religious Zionism faction meeting in the Givat Harel settlement in the West Bank, February 14, 2023. (Sraya Diamant/Flash90)

March 16, 2023, 1:38 pm

Daily Briefing Mar. 16: What Smotrich said and saw in the US; inflation on the rise

US correspondent Jacob Magid discusses finance minister’s overseas trip; Tech Israel editor Sharon Wrobel looks at inflation rate and reactions to Silicon Valley Bank failure

By ToI Staff