TEPAV Retail Confidence Index - March 2018

Abstract

TEPE, which had completed the first three months of 2017 with an average of -18.8 points, improved to the level of -11.1 points in the first three months (Q1) of 2018. The retail confidence which was following a negative course since February 2016 (the last 26 months), decreased by 1.0 percentage points compared to the previous month and rose by 6.5 points compared to the same month of the last year and scored -10.0 in March. The increase of y-o-y basis in TEPE is attributed to the increase witnessed in business activities in the last 3 months and the level of sales expectations for the coming 3 months. Expectations of orders, sales, sales price and employment in the coming 3 months have increased when compared to March 2017 and have decreased when compared to February 2018. “Furniture, lighting equipment and household articles” sector has scored the highest y-o-y increase in retail confidence in March. Furthermore, when compared to the EU-28 and Eurozone, Turkey has experienced a better performance with respect to that of last year.