The Bank of Israel said on Monday that its Composite State of the Economy Index for August increased by .23 percent.
In making the announcement, the bank said, "The Index’s rate of increase has returned to reflecting growth at the long-term pace, after fluctuations in the first quarter of the year due to vehicle purchases being brought forward to the first quarter at the expense of the second quarter." It added, "The Index for August was positively affected by increases in goods exports and in the import of manufacturing inputs in August, and by an increase in the industrial production index in July. In contrast, a decline in imports of consumer goods in August, a decline in the services revenue index in July, and a decline in building starts in the second quarter moderated the Composite Index’s rate of growth."