Gad Lior

Economists see another rate cut as inflation cools and growth slows, though a weaker shekel and election-year budget risks could stay the central bank’s hand

Central bank bought more than $1 billion in June to support orderly currency markets, marking a second straight month of intervention as regional tensions weigh on the shekel

Brent crude climbs above $78, the dollar strengthens past 3.05 shekels and Tel Aviv stocks fall after tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and US strikes on Iranian targets

The agency says Israel’s economy has remained resilient despite geopolitical shocks and forecasts 3.7% growth in 2026 and 5% in 2027 if ceasefires with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas hold

June consumer prices were unchanged, while apartment prices fell 1% over two months and 2% annually, though rents rose sharply for new tenants

A final Knesset legislative sprint approved measures targeting costly business loans, telephone scams, US imports, housing and construction waste, while major transport, open-banking and tax reforms were sidelined by political legislation

The price of 95-octane gasoline is projected to rise by 25 to 30 agorot to about 7.75 shekels per liter as Iran war restricts oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the dollar strengthens against the shekel

Israel’s public companies association urges the government to list IAI and Rafael in Tel Aviv, warning that Nasdaq IPOs would sideline local investors from a defense boom worth billions

Municipalities seek increases beyond the automatic 3.05% adjustment, with Nazareth requesting the steepest rise for homes and businesses

The increase, driven by higher global gasoline prices and a stronger dollar, takes effect at midnight, with full-service fueling costing an additional 25 agorot per liter