Citizens react angrily to Turkey's inflation data: 'Raises are like charity. The citizen will answer at the ballot box.'

Following the Turkish Statistical Institute's (TÜİK) announcement of June inflation at 0.99% monthly and 32.11% annually, citizens in Sinop voiced strong objections, asserting that the declared figures do not represent the actual economic situation. Retirees and workers in the city described a continuous decrease in their purchasing power, making it difficult to access even essential food items.

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I worked alone, supported my family of four, and sent my two children to university. Today, a single person cannot even feed themselves. I lived in a rented apartment, but our salary back then was good. Now, a retiree's salary has never moved forward, it has always gone backward. I think the numbers are manipulated to avoid giving money to retirees when announcing inflation.

Ahmet Koca, who retired in 1998, contrasted his past financial stability with the present hardship. "I worked alone, supported my family of four, and sent my two children to university. Today, a single person cannot even feed themselves. I lived in a rented apartment, but our salary back then was good. Now, a retiree's salary has never moved forward, it has always gone backward. I think the numbers are manipulated to avoid giving money to retirees when announcing inflation," he stated.

"EVERY YEAR WE ARE GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE" Koca added, "Five or ten years ago was much better. Now, purchasing power is very low. You go to the market, and a kilo of onions costs 50-60 lira. We struggle even to buy one kilo of onions. People can barely cover rent and basic expenses with their salaries. Forget about saving; even getting by is difficult. I don't think TÜİK's figures reflect reality. People might seem to be walking on the streets, but many are thinking about what they will eat in the evening. Every year we are going from bad to worse."

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Five or ten years ago was much better. Now, purchasing power is very low. You go to the market, and a kilo of onions costs 50-60 lira. We struggle even to buy one kilo of onions. People can barely cover rent and basic expenses with their salaries. Forget about saving; even getting by is difficult. I don't think TÜİK's figures reflect reality. People might seem to be walking on the streets, but many are thinking about what they will eat in the evening. Every year we are going from bad to worse.

Mert Uslu highlighted how economic difficulties impact not only the present but also future hopes. "Turkey has never been a country completely free from inflation, but it's harder now. In the past, even with low purchasing power, people had dreams; like buying a house or a car after retirement. Now, those dreams are gone. People can't even make ends meet with their salaries, let alone think about buying a house. Young people are also looking for ways to go abroad instead of building their future here. If you want to see the real inflation, look at the people. When you calculate the price of a simit, everything becomes clear."

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Turkey has never been a country completely free from inflation, but it's harder now. In the past, even with low purchasing power, people had dreams; like buying a house or a car after retirement. Now, those dreams are gone. People can't even make ends meet with their salaries, let alone think about buying a house. Young people are also looking for ways to go abroad instead of building their future here. If you want to see the real inflation, look at the people. When you calculate the price of a simit, everything becomes clear.

Zeynel Nallıoğlu pointed to price increases in the market, stating, "I went to the market yesterday. Onions are 50 lira, potatoes are 50 lira. Products we bought for 20 lira two months ago are now more than double. These prices have emerged even before the full impact of the raises. The announced figures do not reflect reality. The raises given are like charity. The citizen will give the answer at the ballot box."

“

I went to the market yesterday. Onions are 50 lira, potatoes are 50 lira. Products we bought for 20 lira two months ago are now more than double. These prices have emerged even before the full impact of the raises. The announced figures do not reflect reality. The raises given are like charity. The citizen will give the answer at the ballot box.