Will there be a price hike for bread?

Important statements have been made regarding the bread price hike that has been a subject of curiosity across Turkey recently. Bakers Federation President Halil İbrahim Balcı corrected the misinformation and incorrect assessments that have emerged. Balcı emphasized that misinterpretations regarding price updates have been misleading the public.

Speaking at the general assembly of the Bakers' Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen in Sakarya, Balcı stated that cooperation with the Ministry of Trade will be carried out in determining prices and that the final decision will be made as a result of these discussions. He also called on bakers to remain calm in the face of reports causing concern in the sector.

Reminding that there has been no change in bread prices since the increase in August 2025, Balcı said that a new assessment could be made in February if necessary. He reiterated his statement: "If a change is required in February, we will consult with the Ministry of Trade and announce the most reasonable price to you, just as we have done until now."

Stating that conciliation commissions have replaced the existing objection commissions in the provinces as part of the new regulations, Balcı noted that these commissions consist of 6 members and represent both the administration and the tradesmen.

Balcı said, "We had stated that the price of bread per kilogram was 75 liras and that there were increases in flour and yeast prices along with the rise in the minimum wage. Despite this, there is currently no price change for 2026."

Explaining that some of the hikes made in the second half of 2024 carried over into 2025, and that for this reason an average increase of 50 percent occurred last year, Balcı mentioned that the data for the last two years is around 37.5 percent, and the data for three years is around 30 percent. He underlined that these rates are at a reasonable level when compared to inflation.

Stating that the reports in the public domain claiming that there will be no price hikes until August stem from a misunderstanding, Balcı emphasized that there was no such statement in his own words as "there will be no hikes until the end of 2026" or "there will definitely be a hike after the 8th month." The process will be clarified entirely after consultations with the Ministry of Trade.

Pointing out that false news and comments cause confusion on a subject as essential to society as bread, Balcı emphasized that the public must be informed correctly.

News Source: 12punto