Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The International Monetary Fund further predicts continued reduction in unemployment and a decline in inflation to around 2% by 2025

Latest PMI data signaled unchanged operating conditions for Turkish manufacturers in March with the headline PMI posting at the 50 no-change mark, a survey by S&P Global has shown.

Any figure greater than 50 indicates overall improvement in the sector. The headline PMI reading was 50.2 in February.

The economic confidence index increased by 1 percent monthly to touch the 100-mark in March, data from the Turkish Statistics (TÜİK) have shown.

Any figure above the 100-mark points to optimism regarding the general economic situation.

The gauge of economic confidence was down 0.4 percent month-on-month in February.

In real terms, adjusted to inflation, rent and home prices declined in February compared to January across Türkiye and the country's three largest cities, according to a report from Istanbul-based Bahçeşehir University's Economic and Social Research Center (BETAM).

The real sector confidence index increased from 102 in February to 103.5 in March, the Central Bank has said.

Any figure above the 100-mark indicates optimism among businesses.

The sub-index of the general business situation surged from 89.5 to 91.1, the bank's data showed on March 22.

Turkey's central bank unexpectedly raised interest rates by 500 basis points to 50% on Thursday, citing a deteriorating inflation outlook and pledged to tighten further if significant and persistent deterioration in inflation is foreseen.

Gold has surged to unprecedented levels, buoyed by its reputation as a safe haven amidst anticipation of an imminent reduction in US interest rates, as per a report by AFP. Around 1:30 PM GMT, the price of gold soared to USD 2,141.79 per troy ounce, eclipsing its previous high of USD 2,135.39 recorded in early December.

The Turkish economy grew by 4.5 percent last year after expanding 5.5 percent in 2022, the data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) have shown, slightly exceeding the government's forecast.

In the medium-term program, the government had predicted a growth rate of 4.4 percent for 2023.

The commercial property prices in Türkiye increased by 98.2 percent in the final quarter of 2023 from the same period of the previous year, the Central Bank has said.

The bank started to publish the commercial property prices for the first time on Feb. 26.

New Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan has said that the bank will maintain its tight monetary stance until inflation falls to levels consistent with its target, while the bank has kept its inflation targets for 2024 and 2025 unchanged.