Israel’s cost of living increases

JERUSALEM, July 15 (JTA) — Israel’s June cost of living index rose by 1.1 percent. The Central Bureau of Statistics attributed the increase to the devaluation of the shekel against the dollar. The weaker shekel made imports costlier for Israelis. The bureau said the increase was also due to a 2.4 percent rise in housing prices. The prices of education, entertainment, communications, clothing and food increased as well.