REAL SECTOR CONFIDENCE INDEX INCREASED According to Central Bank (TCMB) data, real sector confidence index increased by 1,5 points to 106 in March, while seasonally adjusted real sector confidence index decreased by 1,1 points to 104,1 compared with the previous month. Export orders for the next three months, production and employment rate and the general situation positively affected last three months’ total order amount and the current total order amount indexes. On the other hand, evaluations about the fixed capital investment spend and the quantity of finished output/ stock have left the indexed had a decreasing effect on the index. In evaluations pertaining to the last three months, it was observed that the trend toward those reporting a reduction in production volume and export orders continued to pick up while the trend of those reporting a decrease in domestic orders weakened. In evaluations pertaining to the next three months, it was observed that expectations toward an increase in production volume, domestic market and export orders continued to pick up, comparing with the previous month. It was also observed that while expectations toward an increase in employment in the next three months have escalated, those toward an increase in fixed capital investment spending in the next twelve months have weakened. The rate of those who state that they are more optimistic about the general situation in their industry has increased by 11,5% comparing with the previous month; those who say they feel the same have decreased to 73,5 and those who say they are more pessimistic regressed to 15,0%.