Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) announced the Retail Confidence Index figures. While the data reveal that the economic crisis is getting worse, it was emphasized that retail confidence started 2022 with a decline. Although retail confidence, which started 2022 with a decline, increased compared to the previous year, it was noteworthy that it decreased especially compared to the previous month. While in the retail sector, the change experienced in the fuel station, pharmacy, perfumery, hardware store, glassware, stationery, motor vehicles and textile, ready-made clothing and shoes sectors was above the average compared to the same period of the previous year, It was underlined that the sectors of beverage and tobacco products, electrical household appliances, radio and televisions, food, grocers selling more than one type of product, markets and large stores, and furniture, lighting equipment and household products were below the average.
THE PROPORTION OF WHO STATES THAT WORKS ARE DECREASED 65,4 PERCENT
In the assessments, it was emphasized that work has been worsened according to the last month and the last year. Compared to the same period of the previous year, the evaluations for the state of affairs took the value of -53,3 points in January 2022, decreasing by 17,4 points compared to December 2021 and by 8,4 points compared to January 2021. While 12,2 percent of the respondents who participated in the survey in January 2022 stated that there was an increase in their business compared to the same period of the previous year, the rate of those who stated that there was a decrease in their jobs was 65,4 percent.
RETAILERS' FUTURE SALES EXPECTATIONS DROPPED
While the sales expectations of the retailers were also included, it was emphasized that the retailers' sales expectations for the future improved compared to the previous month and decreased compared to the previous year. In January 2022, while it was -18,9 points according to the values of the last 3 months, the sales expectation for the next 3 months increased by 8,6 points compared to the previous month and decreased by 11,7 points compared to the same month of the previous year. According to the results of the survey, all expectations for the future, including sales, orders, employment and number of stores in the January 2022 period, were decreased compared to the previous year. It was noted that the price increase expectations also decreased significantly.
TURKEY IS BEHIND EUROPE UNION COUNTRIES
In the comparison of EU-27 countries and Turkey's Retail Confidence Indexes, it was noted that Turkey lagged behind EU-27 countries, and Malta was the country with the highest increase in January compared to last year. Improvements by more than 40 points were also achieved in Austria and Slovenia. The change in regional averages reached 20,8 points in the EU-27 and 22,3 points in the Eurozone. When the developments compared to the previous month are evaluated, the highest increase was experienced in Austria and Germany; the regional averages were 2,2 points in the EU-27 and 2,7 points in the Eurozone. It was stated that Turkey lags behind the EU-27 and Eurozone averages.