TEPE was designed in the context of the 'Joint Harmonized EU Program of Business and Consumer Surveys' executed by European Commission Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs. The scope of the program initially implemented in all of the EU-27 countries, was expanded to cover candidate countries including Turkey. This way it became possible to monitor comparatively the developments in European economies. Given the high level of integration across the countries of the region, this proves important for the designing of efficient economic policies.

TEPE sample is based on the 2002 General Industry and Business Count announced by TURKSTAT. The sample involves 500 firms. TEPE survey is implemented by interviewers upon monthly face-to-face interviews with the executives of 500 firms.

Wide sector scope...

The index involves a wide range of sectors including food, beverages and tobacco products; textile, ready-made clothing and footwear; electrical home appliances, radio and television; furniture, lighting equipments and households articles n.e.c.; motor vehicles; non-specialized stores; and other sectors.

Covers all geographical regions ...

TEPE is conducted every month in 32 provinces selected from all geographical regions throughout Turkey. The provinces where TEPE is conducted are Istanbul, Tekirdağ, Balıkesir, Bursa, Eskişehir, Kocaeli, Yalova, Izmir, Denizli, Muğla, Kütahya, Uşak, Ankara, Konya, Kayseri, Niğde, Antalya, Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye, Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Samsun, Tokat, Trabzon, Ordu, Erzurum, Malatya, Van, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, and Mardin.

Questions...

The following questions are asked to the participants survey on which the index is based:

1.     How has your business activity developed over the last three months (increased, did not change, decreased)?

2.     How do you consider the volume of inventories you currently hold (above normal, normal, below normal)?

3.     How do you expect your orders placed with suppliers to change over the next three months (will increase, will not change, will decrease)?

4.     How do you expect your business activity (sales) to change over the next 3 months (will increase, will not change, will decrease)?

5.     How do you expect your total employment to change over the next 3 months (will increase, will not change, will decrease)?

6.     How do you expect prices you charge to change over the next 3 months (will increase, will not change, will decrease)?

7.     How has your business activity developed this year compared to the same period in the last year (increased, did not change, decreased)?

8.     How do you expect the number of your stores to change over the next 12 months (will increase, N/A, will decrease)?

TEPE will be announced on the second workday each month

In the context of the survey, field study will be completed within the first two weeks, and data control will be done until the end of the third week. TEPE summary tables will be published in TEPAV web page on the second workday of each month.