The purchasing power of the ultra-Orthodox sector also appears to be influencing secular retail chains, according to a breakdown of TGI survey data conducted for The Marker newspaper.
According to the data, the Haredi sector, which numbers about a million people, still suffers from high poverty rates, but its spending power is high and it constitutes an attractive audience for large retail chains, which are offering more and more products with the strict kosher seal.
In recent years, an ultra-Orthodox middle class has been developing in the sector, which consumes more expensive brands and products, and travels abroad for vacation.
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Nati Toker, a reporter for The Marker, analyzed the data emerging from the survey about the Haredi consumer: Haredim spend less time in cafes, but talk more on the phone; they own fewer vehicles, but more apartments; and perhaps the most interesting statistic is the significant increase in the volume of Internet surfing.
The Haredim sit in cafes less often [only 33 percent], compared to 75 percent among the general population. The Haredim also go on vacations at a lower rate than their secular brethren, both in Israel and abroad.
Although the Haredi have three dedicated radio stations, the Haredi listens to the radio for 50 minutes a day, compared to the average Israeli who listens for 88 minutes.
The Haredi, of course, also surf the Internet less than the secular, but there has been an increase among the sector itself. Surprisingly, the Haredi also declare that they read fewer newspapers - even though the press is the strongest media in the Haredi sector.
Vehicles are considered a luxury product for Haredi: 401% of Haredi families own a car, compared to 781% of the general population.
On the other hand, talking on the phone is more common among those who wear black kippahs: the rate of Haredim who talk for more than half an hour a day on their cell phones is about 40%, compared to 30% in the general population.
The ultra-Orthodox also respond better to advertising. The ultra-Orthodox in the survey stated that they read more advertisements and trust them more.
