The Melnick State of the Economy Index increased by 0.1 percent in July

The expansion of the business sector continues at a more moderate rate

For the first time, the number of employee posts in the business sector has stabilized and may have even declined

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The Melnick State of the Israeli Economy Index increased by 0.1 percent in July 2018. The expansion of the business sector continues at a more moderate rate. The level of revenue in commerce and services, which reflects domestic demand and especially private consumption, indicates stability while fluctuating without an upward trend. The index of industrial production, which reflects the supply side of the business sector, does not expand. Industrial production indicates that, apparently, manufacturing has not overcome the difficulties faced by industry. The level of the imports index, which mainly reflects imports of domestic production inputs, continues to be high. For the first time after a prolonged period of time, there appears to be stabilization and perhaps even a decline in the number of employee posts in the business sector.

The July Melnick Index components: an increase of 0.2% in the industrial production Index in June, following a decrease of 2.9% in May; a decrease of 2.2% in revenue in commerce and services in June, following an increase of 2.3% in May; an increase of 1.7% in the import index in July, following a decrease of 2.2% in June, and a decrease of 0.1% in the number of employee posts in the business sector in May, following a decrease of 0.1% in April.

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