Turkish consumer confidence hits 22-month high in March: TurkStat
File photo shows a person counting a large stack of 200 Turkish lira banknotes at a desk, accessed on Mar. 21, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Consumer confidence in Türkiye hit a 22-month high in March with a 4.6% surge from February’s figure, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) reported on Friday.
The sub-index measuring households’ current financial situation saw a significant improvement in March, jumping 8.2% month-on-month. This suggests that consumers feel more positive about their present financial standing compared to the previous month.
Meanwhile, expectations for the general economic situation over the next 12 months also improved, rising 6.7%. This indicates growing optimism among consumers regarding the country’s economic outlook for the coming year.
Household confidence in spending grows with easing inflation
Additionally, the index tracking planned spending on durable goods over the next 12 months—which reflects consumers’ willingness to make major purchases such as appliances and furniture—increased by 2.8%, signaling higher confidence in long-term spending decisions.
Similarly, the sub-index measuring expectations for household financial conditions over the next year rose by 2% compared to the previous month, highlighting that consumers anticipate their financial situations to improve, albeit at a more moderate pace than broader economic expectations.
The consumer confidence index serves as a key indicator of the economy’s overall health, capturing public sentiment regarding financial conditions, the broader economic outlook, and spending and saving intentions.
March’s consumer confidence figures followed a better-than-expected inflation report for February, where Türkiye’s annual inflation rate declined to 39.05% from 42.12%. Lower-than-expected inflation may have contributed to the improved confidence levels, as it eases pressure on household budgets and boosts purchasing power.
