The rise in food prices shows no signs of slowing down

The United Public-Labor Confederation's research unit, KAMUAR, has released its food price index for December 2025. The report, prepared with data compiled from chain markets across Turkey, reveals the change in prices of 64 basic food items.

Food prices increased by 2.6 percent in December compared to the previous month, and rose by 44.5 percent compared to the same period last year. This increase indicates that food prices have been rising uninterruptedly for 67 months. Throughout 2025, average food prices increased by 54 percent compared to the previous year's average. This shows that a basket that could be purchased for 1000 TL in 2024 cost 1540 TL in 2025.

FOOD EXPENDITURES OF LOW-INCOME GROUPS

The research, based on TUIK data, states that the poorest 20 percent of the population is forced to allocate 30 percent of their consumption expenditures to food. In contrast, this rate is 12.8 percent for the wealthiest 20 percent. Increases in mandatory non-food expenditures are causing low-income groups to cut back on their food spending.

THE MASSIVE INCREASE OVER FOUR YEARS

Between September 2021 and December 2025, food prices increased by 1508 percent, while salary increases for public employees remained at 1034 percent. During this period, the purchasing power of wage earners against food decreased by 29.5 percent.

INCREASE IN FRUIT AND LEGUME PRICES

In December, fruit prices rose by 10.2 percent and legume prices by 10.4 percent. While a 4.7 percent increase was observed in the meat and fish group, milk and dairy products and egg prices fell by 3.5 percent. On an annual basis, the highest increase occurred in fruit at 73.4 percent.

The United Public-Labor Confederation stated that due to structural problems in the agricultural sector, the increase in food prices is expected to continue in the coming months.

News Source: 12punto