Price hikes for gas, food, public transport and more – News from Israel

On Monday, June 1, price increases were implemented in a number of sectors that affected Israeli consumers, including increases in the price of gasoline, food and public transport.

The price of gasoline rose at midnight on Monday, taking prices to NIS 7.56 per liter of self-service gasoline, Israeli media reported. That’s an increase of NIS 0.04 per liter.

Gas prices are updated monthly, and prices are affected by factors such as insurance and freight costs and excise duty. The price increase this month was due to an increase in insurance, freight and VAT, the Ministry of Energy said.

Public transport prices also rose on Monday, after rising earlier last week for those paying with mobile apps. The increases included increases of about 5% for monthly passes, while single-ride prices rose from NIS 5.5 to NIS 6 – an increase of almost 10%.

Following a string of recent price increases for Tnuva, Strauss and Coca-Cola food products, Osem’s price hikes were set to take effect Monday. Prices will increase by an average of 2.2%, Israeli media reported.

Public transport loaded with eggs to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem (source: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Israeli media reported that the price of water is to increase by 1.6% from July 1.

Maintenance costs

Public interest group Lobby 99 blamed part of the price increases on the government’s failure to take the cost of living in Israel seriously.

“Since the beginning of the war, large food companies have raised prices by tens of percent,” they said, adding that although the government fails to make necessary changes, such as import reforms and breaking up monopolies, “society will continue to suffocate and buckle under the burden.”

While the lobby says it has been suggesting reform options for years, “the government has repeatedly caved in to pressure from those who benefit from the high cost of living,” they say.