And More Good News to Feel Good About

We should enjoy this while we can. The good news just keeps coming. With most sectors doing well here in Israel, we have plenty of positive thins to think about

Israel economic growth unexpectedly rose to an annualized 4.7% in the 2nd quarter of 2010 [compared with 4.1% in the Euro Bloc, 2.4% - USA and 0.4% - Japan].

It is the fastest pace in more than two years, as exports [19% industrial exports surge in the 2nd quarter] and consumer spending [8.7% in the 2nd quarter] increased [as well as 11% rise of investment in fixed assets]... rising from 3.6% in the 1st quarter [and 4.3% in the 4th quarter of 2009]…"

This is really an economy running on all pistons… The Israeli economy’s rebound from the global financial crisis has been powered by exports, which make up almost half of gross domestic product. Sales abroad increased in July to $3.8BN, the most in two years… Europe’s economy expanded 1% in the 2nd quarter of 2010 from the previous three month.

Israel’s unemployment is likely to drop to 7.3% this year, from 7.6% in 2009 and continue falling to 6.8% next year.

According to Israel’s Ministry of Finance…Inflation eased in July to an annual 1.8%, its slowest pace in more than 2.5 years.

All this seems to give the average citizen a good feeling about life in spite of the dangers around us.

Gallup’s Global Wellbeing or life satisfaction Study of 155 countries (March, 2010) ranks Israel as number 8, Switzerland 9, Canada 10 and Australia 11 at a level of 62% following New Zealand (63%), Netherlands & Sweden (68%), Norway (69%), Finland (85%), Denmark (82%), ahead of the USA (57%), Brazil (58%), most of Europe, etc.