Index numbers

Bulgaria's business climate indicator has increased by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous month due to improved expectations of managers about the state of their businesses over the next six months, the statistical office NSI announced on Monday.

Turkey's consumer confidence index continued to decline in February amid escalating geopolitical risks as the index saw a 7 percent of drop compared to January. 

The index fell to 66.64 points in February, down 4.98 points, or seven percent, from January, showed data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜ?K) on Feb. 19.  

Bulgaria's consumer confidence index rose by 1.5 percentage points in January 2016, compared to October 2015, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on Friday.

Among the urban population the increase was 1.8 percentage points while among the rural population it was 0.6 percentage points, the NSI said, announcig the results of a survey carried out quarterly.

Inflation numbers of the new year's first month will be announced today.

There is curiosity about whether the rise in the consumer price index, which is now bordering 9 percent, will reach double digits.

Even if it does not reach 10 percent, many believe it will come close.

The Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Turkey PMI Manufacturing Index declined to 50.9 in the first month of 2016, indicating continuous growth in the manufacturing sector despite its loss of speed.

Bulgaria ranks 60th in the latest Index of Economic Freedom which was released on Monday.

The index is published annually by The Wall Street Journal and the Washington-based Heritage Foundation think-tank.

The overall score of Bulgaria is 65.9, the country recording a decrease of 0.9 point compared to the previous edition of the index.

Bulgaria's business climate indicator has increased in January by 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous month due to more optimistic expectations among entrepreneurs in construction and services.

Turkey's economic confidence index tumbled 16.8 percent in January, the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜ?K) said on Jan. 28, reversing a sharp rise from last November after the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) victory in a snap election. 

The index stood at 83.88 in January, compared with 100.81 in December 2015. 

Turkey's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reached its highest level last month since November 2014, rising to 52.2 due to a sharp rise in new manufacturing and export orders, the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (?SO) said in a written statement. 

Activity in China's manufacturing sector contracted for a fifth straight month in December, an official survey showed on Jan. 1, reinforcing fears the world's second-largest economy may be stuck in a protracted slowdown despite a flurry of stimulus measures.