The Turkish manufacturing sector expanded at the slowest pace in four months in March, data released by Markit Economics and HSBC Bank showed Monday.
The seasonally adjusted purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector decreased to 52.3 in March from 53.5 in February. The index stayed above the no-change 50 mark - which separates growth from contraction - for the seventh successive month.
Production at manufacturing firms increased for the eighth successive month, underpinned by the increased new business, both locally and from abroad.
Firms increased their workforces further during the month, continuing the trend observed since June 2009, but the rate of job creation weakened from the previous month.
Input price inflation faced by goods producers slowed at the weakest in seven months, due mainly to unfavorable exchange rates and higher raw material prices. In response to rising input costs, manufacturers raised their output charges, albeit only slightly.
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