Purim Costume Sales Drop 7% Amid Ongoing War

By Aryeh Stern

This year, Purim costume sales have experienced a 7% decrease compared to 2023, with market revenues expected to reach approximately NIS 126 million ($34.3 million), down from last year’s NIS 135 million ($36.7 million), according to estimates by the BDi Coface research company.

Yoel Amir, CEO of the company, attributes this decline to cutbacks in Purim events by local authorities, businesses, and private gatherings. Additionally, there has been a decrease in orders of costumes from international commerce sites due to concerns about delivery delays, prompting a preference for purchasing from local vendors. Notably, there has been a surge in demand for costumes depicting security forces this year.

Shoshi Zohar, a major costume marketer in Israel, noted some delays in shipments but assured that all orders eventually arrived. Despite rising shipping costs, Zohar stated that prices were not increased this year, with a focus on maintaining stability rather than maximizing profits.

The shift in demand is evident in the increased interest in costumes representing soldiers, astronauts, police officers, and other security forces, while there has been a decline in requests for scary or blood-soaked character costumes.