The Melnick State of the Economy Index increased by 0.3 percent in April

The Melnick index rose by 1 percent in the first quarter of 2018

A significant improvement in the activity of the business sector

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The Melnick State of the Israeli Economy Index increased by 0.3 percent in April 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, there was an improvement in business sector growth and the Melnick Index rose by 1 percent. The revenue in commerce and services, which reflects domestic demand continues to reflect strength, and indicates a rise in private consumption and its contribution to economic growth. The level of the industrial production index, which reflects the supply side of the business sector, improved in early 2018, but it is difficult to determine, at this stage, that it has overcome the difficulties facing the industry. The index of imports, which mainly reflects imports of domestic production inputs, stabilized after several months of exceptional fluctuations. The number of employee posts in the business sector continues to reflect strength in the labor market.

The April Melnick Index components include: an increase of 0.3% in the industrial production index in March, following a decrease of 4.4% in February; an increase of 2.9% in revenue of commerce and services in March, following an increase of 0.1% in February; a rise of 0.1% in the import index in April, after a decrease of 6.9% in March, and an increase of 0.1% in the number of employee posts in the business sector in February, following a decrease of 0.6% in January.

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