November import figures - consumer durables imports up

Figures published last week by the Israel Tax Authority show that imports of cars and electrical appliances continued growing in November, in comparison with November 2003.
 
Israel Tax Authority figures show that Israelis spent $2.6 billion on imported cars and electrical appliances in January-November 2004, up 42%, compared with the corresponding period in 2003. $2 billion of this was spent on new cars, 41% more than in January-November 2003. Import quantities also rose impressively.
 
The number of imported cars rose 24% to over 12,700 in November, and 35% to almost 124,000 in January-November. Total revenues from taxes on new cars and electrical appliances grew 30% to NIS 8.1 billion. Imports of other electrical appliances also rose, compared with November 2003: refrigerators up 6%, dishwashers 12%, washing machines 17%, VCRs 20%, laundry dryers 24%, TV sets 52%, and DVDs 110%.
 
The numbers were also higher for January-November: washing machines up 9%, refrigerators 14%, dishwashers 16%, TV sets 33%, and DVDs 102%. Cigarette imports was up 36% in November, and 12% in January-November, compared with the corresponding period last year. Israelis bought 23 million packs of cigarettes in November, and 250 million in January-November.