After meeting 2011 with an upward trend, TEPE stood at 2.9 in February 2011.

ANKARA - After meeting 2011 with an upward trend, TEPE stood at 2.9 in February 2011. TEPE therefore increased by 2.1 points of month-on-month and by 13.3 points year-on-year.

In February 2011 expectations for the next three months improved by 18.1 points compared to the previous month. 49.6% of TEPE survey participants expect improvement in business activities in the next three months whereas 19.4 percent expect a deterioration in business activities. This implies an improvement by 34.7 points compared to February 2010.

The difference between the participants who declared a year-on-year improvement in business activities and who declared a year-on-year deterioration in business activities increased by 31.8 points compared to January 2010 and decreased by 4 points compared to January 2011.

In February 2011 EU-27 Retail Index stood at -1.6 indicating a month-on-month decrease by 1 point and a year-on-year increase by 3.1 points. As in January 2011, EU Retail Index stood below the TEPE in February 2011.

Analysis of the performance of sub-sectors reveal that in February 2011, non-specialized stores, motor vehicles sector and other sectors performed better than the rest of the sectors. On the other hand, furniture and lighting equipments n.e.c.; textile and readymade clothing, and food, beverages and tobacco products and others sector performed worse than the average. In the examined period performance of the electrical household articles, radio and televisions sector weakened compared to the previous year.

Detailed results of the TEPE survey questions reveal a strong recovery in almost all indicators compared to the same period in the year before. Expectation for sales and for orders placed with suppliers in particular improved considerably month-on-month. Expectations for sales, employment and orders placed with   suppliers reveal that retailers are hopeful about the future.