Category: Israel Economy: Data Watch

29th March 2017   Bottom line:  Another strong set of data regarding export services, which is the driven of Israeli exports and hence of long-term economic growth. The main feature is continued growth in all areas — revenues from sales of start-up companies stood out, but the regular, ongoing business revenues are more important, and here the theme was solidly […]

26th March 2017 Bottom line:  The recovery in industrial production that began a few months continued to deepen and broaden in January. In particular, production in high-tech sectors is expanding and export sales — mainly but not only from high-tech — are rising strongly.

13-03-17 Bottom line:  At the headline level, the trade deficit widened sharply in January-February. However, the detailed picture is much more complicated, even confused, as the points below illustrate. Overall, the export sector is still weak, but less so than last year, while imports are distorted by several short-term factors. The impact of the recent sharp rise in the shekel’s […]

9th March 2017 Bottom line: The fiscal year has got off to a good start, with the twelve-month trailing (TTT) deficit/GDP ratio remaining at a very low 2.1%. Tax receipts are continuing strong, although vehicle sales have plunged. Spending is contained, except in the defence sector.

9th March, 2017 Bottom line: Another upward revision, with strength across the board. The first full set of national accounts for the whole of 2016 show even stronger growth than the estimates published at year-end. The growth encompasses domestic spending by the private and public sectors, exceptionally strong investment and strength in both imports and exports.  

February 22, 2017
Bottom line: Service exports closed out a banner year with a record-breaking performance in December — the first month ever in which service exports topped $4bn. After stability in 2015, service exports resumed their rapid growth path in 2016, with over 10% growth overall, led by a 14% jump in high-tech sectors.