The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reports that unemployment is at its lowest point this decade. The rate has gone down almost continuously since the beginning of 2004, when it stood at 11% of the workforce.
The number of people seeking work in Israel thus stands at 192,700 people.
The CBS also reports that exports and imports of goods other than diamonds have both risen. Exports rose especially to Kenya, Jordan, Vietnam, Slovakia, and Turkey, while imports rose most specifically from Latvia, Japan, Portual, China and Jordan.
Electricity rates in Israel are to be jacked up by another 1.5 agorot next week, bringing the price per kilowatt-hour to 54.75 agorot (including Value Added Tax), or 14.48 cents - 16% higher than it was this past September.
The public and business sectors pay a slightly higher rate of approximately 61.5 agorot (16.27¢).
The average cost of residential electricity in the U.S. in March 2006 was 9.86¢.
Electricity rates rise automatically whenever the Israel Electric Company's costs rise by 3.5%, or every six months. The latest price-hike is related to the international jump in fuel prices.