US consumer spending is showing resilience and robust growth, although signs of a slowdown are emerging, potentially related to the public's perception of a deteriorating financial situation due to high inflation and rising interest rates, despite the fact that households still have higher deposits compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Israel has the highest cost of living among all OECD nations, but the comparison to the OECD average is misleading due to the strengthening of the shekel, and next year's numbers are likely to look better due to the shekel's devaluation, which will make prices appear lower in international currencies. The real issue lies in the affordability of consumption baskets relative to median incomes and the neglect of vital infrastructure, such as education and transportation, which contribute to low incomes and high prices. The State Comptroller report highlights the escalating cost of living in crucial sectors like the dairy industry and the real estate market, with significant price increases and housing shortages.
Israel has been ranked as the country with the highest cost of living among developed nations in 2022, with prices 38 percent higher than the average in OECD member countries, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The high cost of living is attributed to over-concentration in certain sectors, such as food and household goods, and structural problems like housing prices and heavy regulation. The Israeli government has formed a ministerial committee to tackle the issue, but the majority of the public believes that the government's lack of action is to blame.
The Bank of Israel is expected to maintain its interest rate at 4.75% due to decreasing inflation and indications of modest economic growth, despite concerns about the slowdown in the hi-tech industry and reduced demand for workers; meanwhile, interest rates in Israel are influenced by expectations of lower rates in the United States and the recent drop in the shekel's value.
Israel's economy is strong and stable, but inflationary pressures have not eased as predicted and the shekel has weakened against the US dollar, causing concerns about the impact of the proposed judicial overhaul on the economy.
Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron stated that currency intervention to support the weakening shekel will only be necessary in the case of market failures, emphasizing that market forces should dictate the exchange rate amid increased uncertainty in Israel.
Leading US financial institution JPMorgan Chase & Co. warns that the recent weakening of the Israeli shekel may indicate long-term trends for the currency, citing political risk and a shift in foreign allocation by Israeli investors as contributing factors.
The personal lens of individuals' financial well-being is a significant factor in how they rate the national economy, with inflation and high prices being major concerns, leading to a lagging personal recovery for many Americans since the pandemic, which impacts their assessment of the economy; furthermore, individuals who are struggling financially today tend to give worse ratings of the U.S. economy compared to those in similar positions in 2019, which contributes to President Biden's low economy and inflation ratings.
Lebanon continues to face enormous economic challenges, including a collapsed banking sector, eroding public services, deteriorating infrastructure, and worsening poverty, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF called for comprehensive policy decisions to address the country's external and fiscal deficits, as well as the restructuring of the banking sector and state-owned companies. Lebanon's political class has been resistant to implementing economic and financial reforms, despite ongoing talks with the IMF.
