DİSK-AR: Inflation data has become even more controversial

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), annual inflation rose by 39.05 percent, while monthly inflation increased by 2.27 percent.

In February 2025, the highest annual price increase was recorded in education at 94.90 percent. The expenditure group with the second-highest price increase was housing with an annual rise of 70.81 percent, while the third group was restaurants and hotels at 45.90 percent. The annual increase in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group was announced as 35.11 percent.

'DATA HAS BECOME EVEN MORE CONTROVERSIAL'

In the statement issued by the DİSK Research Center (DİSK-AR) following the data release, the following remarks were made:

"The high inflation that has persisted in Turkey for several years is causing a decline in the purchasing power of low-income earners and workers. Although the rate of inflation growth has slowed largely due to the base effect, prices continue to rise. A decrease in the rate of inflation growth does not mean that prices are falling. Moreover, inflation affects different social classes and segments differently. It reduces the purchasing power of low-income earners much more significantly and serves to distort income distribution.

Since TÜİK stopped publishing the item price list in June 2022, inflation data has become even more controversial. Official TÜİK data fails to reflect the real inflation felt by the public. However, even according to TÜİK's questionable inflation data, inflation in Turkey remains quite high. Turkey has become one of the worst-performing countries in the world in terms of inflation. While Turkey ranks among the few worst countries globally regarding inflation, it has long maintained its lead among OECD countries."