The Central Bank will announce its second interest rate decision of the year. Following inflation data coming in below expectations, it is expected that the CBRT will continue its interest rate cut cycle. Here are things to know before the interest rate decision… After the positive signals from inflation, all eyes are on the interest rate decision. The Central Bank will announce the year’s second interest rate decision today at 14.00. Economists noted that the CBRT’s hand has eased after the inflation data came in below expectations. It is expected that the CBRT will lower the policy rate by 250 basis points to 42.5%. Foreign institutions Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Deutsche Bank also predicted a 250 basis point cut for the March meeting. Year-end policy rate expectations have settled at 30%. Economists stated that the messages that the Central Bank will give to the markets will be closely monitored. Whether there will be changes in the monetary policy text will also be monitored. The Central Bank had started an interest rate cut cycle in December. The CBRT had lowered the interest rate by 500 basis points in the following two meetings, bringing it down from 50% to 45%. Turkey’s inflation came in below expectations in February at 2.27% on a monthly basis. Monthly inflation was expected to be around 3%. Annual inflation fell to 39.05%, dropping below 40% for the first time in 20 months.