Skip to main content

What does double-digit inflation mean for Turkey?

The accelerating pace of Turkey’s inflation threatens significant erosion in most forms of income on which the country’s population lives.
Boards showing the currency exchange rates of the U.S. dollar and the Euro against Turkish lira are on display at a currency exchange office in Istanbul, Turkey, January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTX2YFYR
Read in 

Turkish consumer inflation has exceeded 10%, climbing back to double digits after 58 months. The factors pushing prices up are unlikely to subside in the coming months, meaning that a double-digit overall inflation at the end of the year is now a strong prospect for the country.

The Consumer Price Index, which denotes the change in the prices of goods and services that consumers buy, was up 10.1% year on year in February. The increase was higher in some categories and lower in others. In food and housing, which account for 24% and 15% of the consumer basket, respectively, the increase stood at 8.7% and 7.4%. Meanwhile, in the transport and tobacco-alcohol categories, which make up 14% and about 6% of household budgets, respectively, inflation stood at 18% and nearly 22%.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.