How Much Has the Cost of Living in the West Bank Increased Since the Events of October 7 Until Today?

Exclusive to SadaNews: Despite the fact that the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent genocide in the Gaza Strip and widespread aggression in the West Bank, have led to serious economic impacts, such as the rise in unemployment rates to over 30%, even though it did not drop below 14% in the West Bank, and despite the contraction of the Palestinian economy by a quarter since those events, inflation has continued to be present in the Palestinian economic scene. Data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reviewed by "Sada News" shows that the cost of living index in the West Bank rose from October 6, 2023, until the end of May 2026 by approximately 3.74%.

The rise in the index since that period focused primarily on food and beverage items, with an increase of 3.74%. This group is significant in the index as it accounts for about 28% of the index weight, which measures 13 different groups of services and goods. Additionally, alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose by 17.23%, with most of the increase coming from the rise in prices of cigarettes and tobacco, while the housing, water, gas, and other housing necessities group saw a rise of 6.06%, and transportation prices increased by 7.18%.

Asil Zidan, Director of the Prices and Statistical Numbers Department at the Bureau of Statistics, told "Sada News" that the most notable goods that witnessed price increases included olive oil, which rose by 39.15% due to a decline in local production during this period, followed by fresh meat at 26.93%, gas at 22.81%, imported cigarettes at 19.37%, alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 17.23%, coffee at 11.43% due to its global price increase, and fresh chicken at 10.82%.

Data indicates that while the average price of a kilo of lamb in the West Bank before October 7 was about 84.37 shekels, it has risen to 101.5 shekels, whereas fresh beef was sold for around 54.43 shekels and now reaches about 71.14 shekels. Chicken was sold at about 15.61 shekels and has now reached 17.57 shekels, while the average price of a kilo of olive oil was about 29.97 shekels and is now around 42.02 shekels. A pack of "Marlboro" cigarettes was sold for 27 shekels and is currently sold for 32 shekels.

A 12 kg gas cylinder was sold at an average of 74.30 shekels and is now priced at 91.30 shekels, while a kilo of ground coffee was sold for about 45.19 shekels, and is now priced at approximately 58.85 shekels.

It is worth noting that three groups out of the 11 groups measured by the cost of living index constitute about 52% of the index weight, which are: food and beverages around 28%, transportation and communication approximately 14%, and housing about 10%.

While the diverse goods and services group (including insurance services, financial services, personal care, social protection, and various goods and services) constitutes about 17% of the index weight, this group includes loan installments, spending on condolences and weddings, goods, and personal care (such as cosmetics and personal cleaning materials, etc.). Therefore, these four groups: food and beverages, transportation and communication, housing, and diverse goods and services make up about 69% of the weight in the cost of living index.

It is noted that the cost of living index in the Gaza Strip rose during the same period by 174.52%, due to the genocide and its repercussions from the siege, closure, and monopolization operations.