Consumer behaviour

Bulgaria's total business climate index has dropped by 0.7 percentage points in December in comparison with the previous month due to the worsening expectations of entrepreneurs in construction, retail trade and services, the national statictical office NSI said on Wednesday.

Economic confidence index decreased by 3.8 percent to 100.18 in December compared to previous month, amid rising tension between Turkey and Russia and uncertainties resulting from the rate hike decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). 

The Municipality of Glyfada’s ‘Red Night’ shopping was supposed to be a festive Christmas event with shops open until midnight. Crowds gathered to welcome the event, but there were reactions by protestors opposed to extended shopping times. They clashed with shoppers who tried to enter stores.

Bulgaria's overall business confidence index has declined by 0.5 percentage points in November compared with the previous month due to more pessimistic assessments and expectations in construction, retail and services sectors.

The economic confidence index jumped 26.7 points in November to 104.99 compared to the previous month after sharp drops, the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜ?K) said on Nov. 27.

Black Friday is traditionally the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States (the fourth Thursday of November).

The consumer confidence index increased in November 2015 to its highest level since April 2014, with a 22.9 point rise from last month, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜ?K) revealed on Nov. 20.

Consumer confidence jumped to 77.15 points in November from 62.78 points in October, according to TÜ?K data prepared in cooperation with the Central Bank. 

Turkey's economic confidence index rose 13 percent in October to 81.48, recovering from a record low a month earlier, ahead of the Nov. 1 elections, data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜ?K) showed on Oct. 27.

The index indicates an optimistic outlook about the general economy when it is above 100 and indicates a pessimistic outlook when it is below 100.

It is an undeniable fact that the economy has played a dominant role in the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) 13-year rule. The voter has supported its economic performance. 

The Turkish Lira hit new lows this week, whereas government bond interest rates were at their highest levels since the global crisis. Weekly statistics released by the Central Bank on Oct. 1 revealed that there were outflows of $1.8 billion and $500 million from bonds and equities until Sept. 23 during the last quarter.