ISRAEL
Analyst
Sani Ziv
UN Economic ConsultantRecent Country Insights
Government bond issuance slows amid narrowing deficit and surplus funds
ISRAEL · In Brief · 05 May 2025
Israel’s Ministry of Finance announced plans to raise NIS 11.0 billion in tradable local bonds during May 2025, a moderate increase from NIS 9.81 billion in April but still well below the average monthly issuance of nearly NIS 16 billion recorded throughout 2024 and early 2025. The decline in iss...
Israeli geopolitics: Gaza deadlock, political tensions, and shifting regional dynamics
ISRAEL · Report · 02 May 2025
Key takeaways from this report: Israel’s political and public arenas remain turbulent, marked by tensions between the judiciary and the government, widespread frustration over the ongoing hostage crisis, and the unresolved issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription. Despite these pressures, early e...
Modest recovery faces internal and external challenges
ISRAEL · Report · 29 Apr 2025
Israel’s economy continued to expand in the first quarter of 2025, although the level of activity remained below its potential trajectory. Despite the ongoing recovery, the economy has clearly not yet returned to full productive capacity. On the geopolitical front, the overall risk environment...
March CPI up 0.5%, annual inflation eases to 3.3%; rate cuts expected in H2 as disinflation builds
ISRAEL · In Brief · 16 Apr 2025
March CPI analysis: Housing and food continue to drive inflation The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March increased 0.5%, slightly above our expectations for a 0.4% increase. The annual rate decreased to 3.30% in March, from 3.40% in February 2025. The March CPI was driven primarily by a 0.9% inc...
March CPI in focus this week; 2025 inflation forecast revised lower amid oil price drop
ISRAEL · In Brief · 14 Apr 2025 · 1 response
Israel marked the beginning of Passover this weekend, with 59 hostages still held in Gaza—24 of them presumed alive. Reports over the weekend suggested progress in hostage deal negotiations. On the Iranian front, following an initial round of indirect nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, both...
Deficit narrows in 2025 under baseline scenario, but surges if Gaza conflict escalates
ISRAEL · In Brief · 08 Apr 2025
The Ministry of Finance announced yesterday that Israel recorded a deficit of NIS 13 billion ($3.5 billion) in March. The trailing 12-month (TTM) budget deficit declined to 5.2% of GDP, down from 5.3% in February, 5.8% in January, 6.9% in December, and a peak of 8.5% in September 2024. In the fir...
Israel keeps rate at 4.5% as BoI highlights global and domestic risks
ISRAEL · In Brief · 08 Apr 2025 · 1 response
Policy rate held steady for ninth consecutive meeting The Bank of Israel kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.5% on April 7th, marking the ninth consecutive decision to maintain the current level. The move was widely expected by markets. The Monetary Committee adopted a slightly dovish...
Israeli geopolitics: Trump, Tehran, and turmoil at home—Israel faces regional threats and political unrest
ISRAEL · Report · 31 Mar 2025 · 1 response
Key takeaways from this report: - A potential end to the Ukraine war under Trump’s mediation might allow Russia to redirect its focus back to the Middle East, causing destabilization from Israel’s perspective. - American-Iranian negotiations may ease direct confrontation but might agi...
Israel weekly economic wrap: rising geopolitical tensions, 2025 budget passes, but fiscal risks remain amid signs of economic softening
ISRAEL · In Brief · 30 Mar 2025
The past week in Israel was marked primarily by heightened domestic tensions surrounding the judicial overhaul and the anticipated clash between the government and the Supreme Court. This stems from efforts to dismiss both the Attorney General and the head of Israel’s Security Agency (Shin Bet). ...