Turkish Inflation Jumps to 4.18% m/m in April, Exceeding Forecasts

Passers-by walk at Galata bridge on a rainy spring day in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)
Passers-by walk at Galata bridge on a rainy spring day in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)
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Turkish Inflation Jumps to 4.18% m/m in April, Exceeding Forecasts

Passers-by walk at Galata bridge on a rainy spring day in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)
Passers-by walk at Galata bridge on a rainy spring day in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP)

Turkish consumer price inflation surged to 4.18% month-on-month in April, while the annual figure climbed to 32.37%, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed on Monday, with both measures exceeding economists' forecasts.

In a Reuters poll, monthly inflation was forecast to be 3.28%, with the annual rate seen at 31.25%, as the Iran war drives ‌a sharp ‌rise in fuel prices and ‌expectations ⁠of a slower-than-anticipated disinflation ⁠trend.

The biggest monthly price rises in April were shown by the clothing and footwear sector, with 8.94% inflation, and the housing sector at 7.99%, while key transport sector prices were up 4.29% and ⁠food and drinks sector prices ‌were up 3.7%.

In ‌March, consumer price inflation dipped to 1.94% month-on-month, ‌while the annual figure fell to ‌30.87%, both figures below forecasts.

The data also showed the domestic producer index rose 3.17% month-on-month in April for an annual increase of 28.59%.

The ‌central bank flagged rising inflation risks in its monetary policy committee ⁠statement ⁠last month, when it kept main interest rates steady, saying it was closely monitoring fallout from the Iran war and potential second-round effects.

In February, Türkiye's central bank raised its year-end inflation forecast range by two percentage points to 15–21%, while keeping its interim 16% target unchanged, despite market doubts over whether the disinflation trend seen through much of 2025 remains on track.



J.P. Morgan, BNP Paribas Forecast December ECB Rate Hike

FILE PHOTO: The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
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J.P. Morgan, BNP Paribas Forecast December ECB Rate Hike

FILE PHOTO: The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

J.P. Morgan and BNP Paribas said on Thursday they expect the European Central Bank to deliver another 25-basis-point rate hike in December, as persistent inflation risks and elevated energy prices strengthen the case for further tightening.

Both brokerages had previously expected the ECB's tightening cycle to end without a December rate increase.

The revised outlooks suggest borrowing costs in the euro zone will remain elevated for longer than previously anticipated, reflecting resilient regional economic ⁠growth and ongoing energy ⁠supply concerns.

"We think the persistence of the energy shock and the resilience of the economy make second-round effects more likely to materialize," said analysts at BNP Paribas in a note.

Markets have almost fully priced in ⁠a 25-basis-point interest rate hike by the European Central Bank at its September 10 policy meeting, indicating a 99.2% probability, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Oil prices eased but remained above $95 a barrel. At the same time, eurozone bond yields retreated from multiyear highs, following recent market pressure as the escalating conflict in Iran boosted energy prices, stoking fears of persistent inflation and ⁠tighter ⁠monetary policy.

According to Reuters, J.P. Morgan said "an interaction between more persistent energy price pressures, solid growth, sticky core inflation and a neutral rate that the ECB sees edging higher" would be the reason for a further rate hike in December.

BNP Paribas expects the ECB to hike interest rates by 25 bps at its meeting next week while leaving the door wide open to delivering more if evidence of second-round effects builds.


US Sanctions Turkish Bank, 2 Subsidiaries to Pressure Iran

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 1: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives for a press conference as the 2026 G20 Financial meetings come to a close on September 1, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/AFPages via AFP)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 1: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives for a press conference as the 2026 G20 Financial meetings come to a close on September 1, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/AFPages via AFP)
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US Sanctions Turkish Bank, 2 Subsidiaries to Pressure Iran

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 1: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives for a press conference as the 2026 G20 Financial meetings come to a close on September 1, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/AFPages via AFP)
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 1: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives for a press conference as the 2026 G20 Financial meetings come to a close on September 1, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/AFPages via AFP)

The US Treasury Department said on Friday it imposed new Iran-related sanctions on a small Turkish investment bank and two subsidiaries as part of the Trump administration's effort to increase economic pressure on Iran.

The entities targeted are Instanbul-based investment bank Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi, asset manager Golden Global Portfoy Yonetimi Anonim Sirketi, and asset leasing company Golden Global Varlik Kiralama Anonim Sirketi, according to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The sanctions put all three entities on the Treasury's OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list, cutting them off from the dollar-based financial system.

The Treasury Department also issued a general license to allow the wind-down of transactions with the sanctioned entities.

In an interview with news outlet America's Voice News, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ⁠said that the ⁠latest action "is code for you are out of business."

"And we will probably sanction another bank next week, and we are telling the financial system bad actors: 'We know who you are, you know who you are, it's over, and our allies are helping with this," he said.

Golden Global Yatrim Bankasi is the 35th-largest bank in Turkey by total assets, according to database TheBanks.EU, with total assets of 25,024.68 million Turkish lira ($516.63 million) in 2025.

The bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Treasury said in a statement that Golden Global was established for the purpose of enabling Iran's shadow banking network to transfer oil revenues from China to Türkiye,
where it could then be converted to cash and gold by money exchangers.

The Treasury said that Golden Global has knowingly offered to provide correspondent banking services to Iranian financial institutions, enabling transactions through accounts controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force and its proxies.

The action is the latest in the Trump administration's campaign to economically pressure Tehran six months into the US-Israel war with Iran, which has pushed energy prices higher worldwide.

Bessent, who last month announced an "economic onslaught" against Iran's financial links around the world, has said Washington is seeking to force Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Last week, Washington moved to impose Patriot Act curbs ⁠on Egyptian lender Banque Misr's ⁠branches in the United Arab Emirates from US dollar transactions over their dealings with Iran. But the action fell short of full OFAC sanctions on the institution that did not affect Misr's head office or branches elsewhere.

In an interview with Reuters on Sunday, Bessent said the Treasury Department was likely to roll out new secondary sanctions every week, initially focusing on banks, as part of a broader campaign to intensify economic pressure on Iran.


Dammam Airports Company Wins Six International ACI Accreditations in Istanbul

King Fahd International Airport also secured accreditation for health and safety compliance - SPA
King Fahd International Airport also secured accreditation for health and safety compliance - SPA
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Dammam Airports Company Wins Six International ACI Accreditations in Istanbul

King Fahd International Airport also secured accreditation for health and safety compliance - SPA
King Fahd International Airport also secured accreditation for health and safety compliance - SPA

Dammam Airports Company achieved a significant milestone by receiving six international accreditations in accessibility, health and safety, and customer experience from Airports Council International (ACI) during the 2026 ACI World Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul.

Under accessibility benchmarks, King Fahd, Al-Ahsa, and Al Qaisumah international airports each earned level 1 accessibility accreditation, underscoring the operator's commitment to inclusive infrastructure and services for all traveler categories, SPA reported.

King Fahd International Airport also secured accreditation for health and safety compliance, verifying its operational readiness and adherence to global protective standards.

In customer experience, both Al-Ahsa and Al Qaisumah international airports received level 1 customer experience accreditation, highlighting ongoing upgrades to passenger journey touchpoints and overall service quality.

The recognitions demonstrate Dammam Airports Company's strategic alignment with global aviation best practices across its network, bolstering operational efficiency, safety, and regional connectivity in Eastern Region.