CHP deputy shares table comparing citizens' purchasing power

Karakoz said, "Red meat and ground meat, which bring smiles to faces when they are on iftar tables, are more expensive this year. Last year, the average price per kilo of meat was 240 TL, ground meat was 210 TL, and the price per kilo of a whole chicken was 44 TL. This year, meat has risen to 550 TL, ground meat to 400 TL, and chicken to 75 TL... It is unclear whether citizens will truly be able to fast happily or if they will remain hungry due to these prices," he said. 

CHP's Evrim Karakoz made a written statement regarding the price increases in food items ahead of the month of Ramadan. Karakoz stated, "Grocery shopping for iftar tables this year has become much more expensive compared to the shopping done during the month of Ramadan in 2023.

When we base our calculations on the lowest prices of products in the 2023 Ramadan shopping, this year a 300-gram Ramadan pita has increased from 10 TL to 18 TL. Bread has gone from 5 TL to 8 TL; 1 kilo of red meat from 240 TL to 550 TL. 1 liter of olive oil has risen from 70 TL to 290 TL, and 1 kilo of dates from 200 TL to 350 TL. What will those who are fasting do, and how will they be able to buy the food they crave?" he said.

Emphasizing that the prices of all food products have increased manifold ahead of the month of Ramadan, which will begin on March 11, Karakoz said, "Prices have risen so much that it is unclear whether citizens will truly be able to fast happily or if they will remain hungry due to these prices." Karakoz's statement is as follows:

"We see that the price of pita (300g), the symbol of the month of Ramadan, was 10 TL in 2023, while this year it has increased by 80 percent to 18 TL. It appears that food shopping for the month of Ramadan this year will be even more expensive than last year. The price of a kilo of dates, a staple of iftar tables, was 200-220 TL last year, while this year it has risen to 350 TL.

"HOW WILL SALARIES COVER KITCHEN EXPENSES DURING RAMADAN?"

Red meat and ground meat, which bring smiles to faces when they are on iftar tables, are more expensive this year. Last year, the average price per kilo of meat was 240 TL; ground meat was 210 TL, and the price per kilo of a whole chicken was 44 TL. This year, meat has risen to 550 TL, ground meat to 400 TL, and chicken to 75 TL. How many times can a family living on minimum wage or a pension buy meat or ground meat throughout the month of Ramadan, and how many iftar meals can they fully prepare?

Considering that the minimum wage is 17 thousand lira and the lowest pension is 10 thousand lira, how will the salaries of minimum wage earners and retirees cover kitchen expenses during the month of Ramadan? How will a family that buys food for iftar meet their other needs? Looking at the table below, which is based on market, bazaar, and butcher prices, neither the minimum wage nor the pension is enough to set an iftar table." 

Evrim Karakoz's table comparing food prices and the corresponding purchasing power of pensions between 2023 and 2024 is as follows: