IPA report released: Citizens' main concerns in Istanbul are food and the economy

The Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) Istanbul Barometer July 2024 data has been released. According to IPA data, economic issues are at the top of the agenda for Istanbul residents.

12punto 15 August 2024

The July results of the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) Istanbul Barometer have been announced.

WHAT ARE ISTANBUL RESIDENTS TALKING ABOUT AT HOME?

The domestic agenda for July consisted of economic issues and Israel's occupation of Gaza. 50.5% of participants stated that economic issues were discussed at home, while 6% mentioned Israel's occupation of Gaza and 4.9% mentioned the law regarding stray animals.

Economic issues and Israel's occupation of Gaza were also on the agenda for Turkey. While 39.2% of participants mentioned that economic issues were discussed at home, 27.9% discussed Israel's occupation of Gaza, and 19.4% discussed the adoption of the bill regarding stray animals.

ECONOMY AND RISKY STRUCTURES

In July, Istanbul's agenda was dominated by economic issues and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's (IBB) rent support campaign for low-income retirees living in risky buildings. 54.1% of participants stated that economic issues were the main agenda item for Istanbul in July. In second place, with 17.5%, was the IBB's rent support campaign for low-income retirees living in risky buildings. In third place, with 6.1%, was the IBB's provision of free transportation support for job seekers.

CITIZENS ARE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE ECONOMY

In July, 19.5% of participants stated that they believe the Turkish economy will improve, while 31.6% said it will not change, and 48.9% said it will worsen. 24.3% of participants stated that they think their own economic situation will improve. In July, while 24.3% of participants stated that their own economic situation would improve, 39.7% said it would not change, and 36% said it would worsen.

CREDIT CARD DEBTS CANNOT BE PAID

33.6% of participants stated that they could only pay the minimum amount of their credit card debt. Of those who use credit cards, 46.3% stated they could pay their full monthly credit card debt, while 33.6% could only pay the minimum amount. 6.8% stated they could pay an amount between the minimum and the full debt, 4.2% stated they could pay less than the minimum, while 9.1% stated they could not pay their credit card debt at all.

FOOD ACCESS PROBLEM

In July, 26.5% of participants stated that they could not make some payments and had gone into debt, 6.3% stated that they actually could not make ends meet, 40.3% stated they could barely make ends meet, and 26.9% stated they could make ends meet and even save some money. 41.8% of participants stated that they experienced anxiety about accessing sufficient food in July.

ALMOST 1 IN EVERY 2 PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS FOOD

51.5% of participants stated that they were deprived of the food they preferred due to financial insufficiency during July. 41.1% of participants stated that they reduced their portion sizes because they could not access sufficient food.