EconoTicker

South Korea’s latest data showed a better consumer picture and still-solid money growth. The LSEG/Ipsos PCSI jumped to 49.99 in March from 45.89, while M2 money supply growth eased to 7.10% in January from 7.40%, and M3 still edged higher to 6,102.1 billion won from 6,090.4 billion won. The mix suggests sentiment improved sharply even as broad liquidity growth cooled slightly from the previous pace.

Source: LSEG/Ipsos PCSI; Bank of Korea. The Bank of Korea’s statistical calendar lists the January 2026 monetary and liquidity aggregates release for mid-March 2026.

Brazil’s February inflation data delivered a mixed signal. The IPCA rose 0.70% month-on-month, up from 0.33% in January and above the 0.65% expectation in your data, while 12-month inflation slowed to 3.81% from 4.44% previously. The official release said education and transport were the main drivers of the monthly increase, together accounting for about two-thirds of the move.

Source: IBGE.

Turkey’s reserve data pointed to a weaker foreign-exchange buffer. Gross FX reserves fell to 62.77B from 73.43B, while the net FX reserves indicator eased to 78.78 from 91.78. The figures suggest Turkey’s reserve position became less comfortable, an important signal for markets watching external stability and lira risk.

Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT)

South Africa’s manufacturing data sent a mixed signal. Manufacturing production rose 1.5% month-on-month in January after -1.3% previously, while the annual rate remained negative at -0.7%, though better than -1.5% before. At the same time, Thomson Reuters IPSOS PCSI slipped to 47.51 from 48.57, showing consumer sentiment weakened slightly even as factory activity improved on a monthly basis.

Source: Statistics South Africa; Thomson Reuters / IPSOS PCSI

Israel’s Thomson Reuters IPSOS PCSI dropped to 48.49 in March from 51.42 previously, showing a notable deterioration in consumer sentiment. The move signals that households are becoming less confident, adding to signs of a weaker consumer backdrop.

Source: Thomson Reuters / IPSOS PCSI

Turkey’s central bank kept its one-week repo rate at 37.0% and left the corridor unchanged, with the overnight borrowing rate at 35.5% and the overnight lending rate at 40.0%. At the same time, Thomson Reuters/Ipsos PCSI for Turkey rose to 36.2 in March from 34.6, suggesting consumer sentiment improved even as policymakers stayed cautious.

Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT); Thomson Reuters/Ipsos.

South Africa’s external position improved sharply in the fourth quarter, with the current account shifting to a R50.2 billion surplus, equal to 0.60% of GDP, from a R72.0 billion deficit and -0.90% of GDP previously. The turnaround suggests a much stronger external balance, helped by a better trade position and firmer export support.

Source: South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

Turkey’s current account deficit came in at $6.81 billion in January, improving from $7.40 billion previously. The move points to a slightly narrower external gap at the start of the year, but the deficit remains large enough to keep attention on energy imports, financing conditions, and the lira’s vulnerability.

Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), Balance of Payments Developments – January 2026.

Brazil’s foreign exchange flows turned negative at -3.897 billion dollars, after a +2.071 billion dollars reading previously. The reversal suggests a sharp weekly deterioration in cross-border currency flows, a shift that is typically seen as less supportive for the Brazilian real.

Source: Banco Central do Brasil.

Mexico’s Thomson Reuters IPSOS PCSI eased to 53.05 in March from 53.27 previously, indicating a very modest decline in consumer sentiment. The move was small, suggesting the consumer backdrop remained broadly stable despite the softer reading.

Source: Thomson Reuters/IPSOS.

Brazil’s Thomson Reuters IPSOS PCSI edged lower to 52.24 in March from 52.68 previously, pointing to a mild cooling in consumer mood after the prior reading. The pullback was limited, suggesting sentiment softened rather than deteriorated sharply.

Source: Thomson Reuters/IPSOS.

Brazil’s retail sales rose 0.4% MoM in January after -0.4% previously, while annual growth accelerated to 2.8% from 2.4%. The data points to a firmer consumer backdrop at the start of the year, with domestic demand showing renewed momentum.

Source: IBGE, Monthly Survey of Trade (PMC).