Turkish business confidence shows mixed signals in February

While the services sector displayed optimism, retail trade experienced a slight decline, and construction remained largely unchanged.

The seasonally adjusted confidence index in the services sector rose by 1.6% compared to January, reaching 118.6. This positive movement indicates a more optimistic outlook among businesses in areas like transportation, hospitality, and professional services.

However, the retail trade sector witnessed a 1.0% decrease in its confidence index, settling at 114.5. This suggests a somewhat cautious sentiment among retailers, potentially influenced by factors such as inflation, rising interest rates, and subdued consumer spending.

The construction sector's confidence index remained relatively stable, registering a slight increase of 1.0% to reach 91.8. This indicates that while significant growth is not anticipated, construction businesses remain cautiously optimistic about future prospects.

The TÜİK data highlights the diverse dynamics at play within the Turkish economy. While the services sector appears to be on a positive trajectory, the retail trade sector might be facing some headwinds. The construction sector, meanwhile, seems to be maintaining a cautious approach. (ILKHA)