Israelis storm the stores: Nearly half a billion shekels in one morning
The Israeli public took advantage of the morning hours on the eve of the holiday to complete last-minute shopping for family meals. New data from Shva, which manages the national payment system, shows that Israelis spent very high amounts in a short period of time.
According to the data, between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, transactions totaling approximately 459 million shekels were recorded. This is a significant figure that testifies to the public's intensive preparations for the holiday, which included purchases of food, gifts, and household products.
Last-minute shopping is a well-known phenomenon in Israel before major holidays. Many prefer to purchase fresh products on the morning of the holiday itself, which creates heavy congestion in retail chains and shopping centers across the country.
Shva monitors the consumption habits of Israelis during these periods every year. The data collected this morning shows that despite the economic and security situation, the Israeli public continues to maintain the tradition of holiday shopping.
Extensive economic activity is expected to continue in the coming hours, as business owners prepare to close their stores ahead of the holiday's onset. Experts estimate that the total volume of spending by Israelis on the eve of the holiday will be exceptionally high compared to regular days.