Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said this morning (Tuesday) in an interview with Aryeh Golan here Monday that there is a "shopping celebration" for consumers in Israel.
This controversial statement, the finance minister said against the background of rising prices and taxes imposed on the public.
The price index of the Central Bureau of Statistics published yesterday shows that the index itself has risen since the beginning of the year by 2.6% and 0.1% in October.
Food prices rose 0.9% last month.
Clothing and footwear increased by 3.6%.
In addition, an investigation was recently opened by the Competition Authority against some of the marketing chains and food manufacturers on suspicion of coordinating price increases.
"I look at what is happening to the Israeli consumer, the growth is 7.1%, it is impossible to cancel it. We see activity in the credit cards - there is a celebration of shopping here," said Lieberman.
The minister also referred to the jump in housing prices, which according to data published yesterday has risen by 9.9% in the past year.
"I look at the legacy we have received, when for several years in a row less builders, there is a shortage of supply," Lieberman said.
"When the prime interest rate is zero, it's the urge for mortgages that Israelis have taken out in a way we have not seen since the Second Temple."
Lieberman referred to his latest move from yesterday, raising the tax on e-cigarettes, "all the opinions of the Ministry of Health say it is no less harmful than real tobacco."