Confidence index decreases in services and retail trade sectors in Turkey

Services confidence index realized as 92.5

Seasonally adjusted confidence index which was 98.5 for services in February decreased by 6.0% in March to 92.5. In services sector compared to the previous month, demand-turnover expectation over next three months sub-index decreased by 7.6% to 97.7. Business situation over past three months sub-index decreased by 4.8% to 90.6 and demand-turnover over past three months sub-index decreased by 5.6% to 89.3.

Retail trade confidence index realized as 101.7

Seasonally adjusted retail trade confidence index decreased by 1.2% in March to 101.7. In retail trade sector compared to the previous month, current volume of stock sub-index increased by 0.2% to 108.0. Business activity-sales expectation over next three months sub-index decreased by 2.4% to 102.5 and business activity-sales over past three months sub-index decreased by 1.4% to 94.4.

Construction confidence index realized as 77.2

Seasonally adjusted construction confidence index which was 74.5 in previous month increased by 3.7% in March to 77.2. In construction sector compared to the previous month, total employment expectation over next three months sub-index increased by 5.4% to 93.4. Current overall order books sub-index became 61.1 by increasing 1.2%.

In construction sector, 62.9% of the enterprises indicated at least one factor limiting their activities while 37.1% of the enterprises indicated none in March. Among the main factors limiting activities in construction sector; "financial constraints" which was 42.1% in February realized as 42.0% in March, "insufficient demand" which was 34.7% in February realized as 31.1% in March and "weather conditions" which was 18.3% in February realized as 11.2% in March. (ILKHA)