DİSK-AR: Minimum wage loss against inflation rose to 6,196 liras in August

According to the DİSK-AR bulletin, annual inflation in August was 31.51 percent; the loss in purchasing power of the minimum wage reached 6,196 liras.

12punto

The DİSK Research Center (DİSK-AR) announced in a bulletin published following the August 2026 inflation data from TURKSTAT that the loss of the minimum wage against inflation has reached 6,196 liras.

The bulletin stated that according to TURKSTAT data, the monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 1.84 percent, while annual inflation was 31.51 percent. The change in the CPI was recorded at 31.79 percent based on twelve-month averages and 22.07 percent compared to December of the previous year.

HIGHEST INCREASE IN EDUCATION

Among expenditure groups, the area with the highest annual inflation was education at 53.44 percent. In August, the sharpest monthly increase was also recorded in the education group at 8.62 percent. This group was followed by alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 6.89 percent.

DİSK-AR pointed out that the slowdown in the rate of inflation does not mean that prices have declined. The bulletin emphasized that high inflation erodes purchasing power, especially for low-income groups and workers.

"Although the rate of inflation has slowed down largely due to the base effect, prices continue to rise. A decrease in the rate of inflation does not mean that prices are falling."

— DİSK-AR Inflation News Bulletin

The bulletin also stated that inflation does not affect different social segments to the same extent, noting that it reduces the purchasing power of low-income earners more significantly and creates a result that disrupts income distribution.