Israeli Business Confidence Holds Steady in August, Retail Sales Turn Positive
Israel's business confidence remained stable in August, as hotels and services saw gains and retail sales turned positive, according to the Central Bureau of.
Jerusalem, 7 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that business confidence remained largely stable in August 2026, according to its monthly Business Trends Survey, which polls company managers on current conditions and near-term expectations.
The “net balance” — a standard economic indicator reflecting the gap between optimistic and pessimistic responses — held steady overall. Industrial firms reported a slight dip in sentiment compared to July, while hotels and services saw improvement.
Separately, data comparing July to June showed retail trade turning positive, with a net sales balance of 5.9, meaning more retailers reported rising sales than declining ones — a shift from the sector’s earlier weaker readings.
The survey is a closely watched gauge of short-term economic sentiment in Israel.