Turkish Inflation Drops Slightly for First Time in 3 Months

Pedestrians walk past a currency exchange shop in the Turkish city of Istanbul. (EPA)
Pedestrians walk past a currency exchange shop in the Turkish city of Istanbul. (EPA)
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Turkish Inflation Drops Slightly for First Time in 3 Months

Pedestrians walk past a currency exchange shop in the Turkish city of Istanbul. (EPA)
Pedestrians walk past a currency exchange shop in the Turkish city of Istanbul. (EPA)

Turkish annual consumer price inflation dropped for the first time in three months to 61.36% in October, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed on Friday, as fallout eased from the lira's sharp summer decline, and tax hikes.

Month-on-month, inflation was 3.43%.

The domestic producer price index was up 1.94% month-on-month in October for an annual rise of 39.39%.

The annual inflation rate increased to 61.53% in September and is expected to rise into next year although the central bank raised the interest rate by 2,650 basis points to 35 percent.

Türkiye’s central bank (CBRT) raised its year-end inflation forecasts for this year and next to 65% and 36% respectively, Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan said on Thursday.

The bank's previous inflation report three months ago forecast year-end inflation of 58% in 2023 and 33% next year.

Moreover, the 2025 inflation forecast was lowered from 15 percent to 14 percent.

Erkan told a press conference to present the CBRT's inflation report that disinflation would start after it peaked at around 70%-75% in May.

“We expect that there will be temporary rises in the monthly inflation in November, January, and May owing to several factors that fall outside the scope of the monetary policy,” according to Erkan.

"We will continue to use all our tools decisively until there is a significant improvement in the inflation outlook.”

She added that the bank maintained a 5% medium-term target.

Türkiye will move to inflation-adjusted accounting, but financial institutions may be excluded from the practice, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said.



Saudia Group Signs Deal with Airbus to Acquire up to 20 Wide-Body Aircraft

Saudia Group announced a new aircraft deal with Airbus to enhance its fleet - AFP
Saudia Group announced a new aircraft deal with Airbus to enhance its fleet - AFP
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Saudia Group Signs Deal with Airbus to Acquire up to 20 Wide-Body Aircraft

Saudia Group announced a new aircraft deal with Airbus to enhance its fleet - AFP
Saudia Group announced a new aircraft deal with Airbus to enhance its fleet - AFP

Saudia Group announced in a press release on Wednesday a new aircraft deal with Airbus to enhance its fleet by adding up to 20 new wide-body A330neo aircraft, 10 of which are firm orders for flyadeal, the group’s low-cost carrier.
The signing ceremony was held at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, attended by Saudia Group Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar and Airbus Commercial Aircraft business CEO Christian Scherer. The deal was signed by Saudia Group Vice President of Fleet Management Saleh Eid and Airbus Executive Vice President of Sales of Commercial Aircraft Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, SPA reported.
Al-Omar stated: “Today’s deal marks a pivotal milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernize and expand our fleet. It builds on last year’s historic deal with Airbus for 105 aircraft. This step aligns with our national strategies under Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to connect 250 destinations and facilitate the travel of over 330 million travelers and 150 million tourists by 2030.”
He added: “This deal supports Saudia Group’s plans to grow and improve its operations. It adds to the modernization of our fleet, improves aircraft maintenance, and makes our overall operations more efficient.”
According to the release, Saudia Group currently operates a fleet of 194 aircraft, serving commercial aviation, cargo operations, and logistics services. "The group is set for significant expansion, with 191 new aircraft scheduled for delivery in the coming years," it added.