Rise in credit card purchases in 2006
Central Bureau of Statistics says most significant increase in credit card use noted in municipal and governmental services, clothing, footwear, hardware and software
Based on the data, the biggest increase in credit-card payments was for municipal and governmental services, clothing and footwear, and hardware and software. Credit-card use for food purchases increased by 6.5 percent.
The information regarding individual consumers was received from all credit-card companies operating in Israel, and was divided into major purchase groups and sub-groups, according to categories of the businesses at the credit-card companies.
The purchases are reported by total purchases per business and relate to purchases of Israelis in Israel only.
The food and beverage category (including catering services) totals 21 percent of all individual credit card purchases. The increase in this category in 2006 was 6.5 percent compared to 2005.
The industries category (including clothes, shoes, appliances and electronics, department stores and furniture) amounts to 19 percent of all purchases, and increased by 14.4 percent compared to 2005. The most significant increase within this category was for clothing and footwear – 17.1 percent.
In the services category (including insurance, airlines, hospitality, entertainment, and municipal and governmental services) – 19 percent of all purchases, an increase of 11.3 percent was marked in 2006. The most significant growth was in the municipal and governmental services – 22.5 percent. The smallest change was in tourism, hospitality and flights – 4.3 percent.
The other products category (including petrol, electricity and gas, hardware and software, transport services and equipment, communications services and equipment, books, medical services and medication) which makes up 41 percent of all purchases, increased by 8.3 percent in 2006 compared to 2005.
This growth was due in part to the computer and software sub-category with a 16.7 percent increase in 2006. The transport sub-category grew by 20.3 percent.
