Turkey’s central government posted a budget deficit of TRY 298.2 billion in May 2026, compared with a surplus of TRY 235.2 billion a year earlier. Total spending rose 27.0% year-on-year to TRY 1.38 trillion, driven by increases in personnel costs (+48.1%), social security contributions (+52.6%), current transfers, capital expenditure, and goods and services purchases. Non-interest expenditures increased 28.3% to TRY 1.26 trillion, while interest payments rose 16.0% to TRY 128.9 billion. On the revenue side, inflows fell 18.0% to TRY 1.09 trillion, weighed by a 22.1% drop in tax receipts to TRY 931.5 billion, reflecting broad-based declines across key categories, including income tax, VAT, and special consumption tax, despite gains in banking and insurance taxes and customs-related revenues. As a result, the primary balance shifted to a deficit of TRY 169.3 billion from a surplus of TRY 346.4 billion a year earlier.