Unofficial price hike for simit in Istanbul! 'We cannot bear the costs, we have accepted the risk of a fine'

In Istanbul, the price of a simit, which had just seen a 33 percent increase in August rising from 7.5 lira to 10 lira, has undergone another unofficial price hike in the 3 months since.

According to a report by Cumhuriyet; many bakeries in Istanbul have started selling simit for 12 lira, a 20 percent increase. 

“WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE RISK OF A FINE”

Stating that they were forced to increase prices without waiting for an official raise for simit, which is actually subject to authorization just like bread, tradespeople said, “We cannot bear the costs, we have accepted the risk of a fine.” Citizens on the street, meanwhile, said, “I don't even remember the last time I bought a simit for breakfast.”

Istanbul Flour-Work Tradesmen Chamber President Şaban Özdemir reminded that municipalities have the authority to inspect regarding illegal price hikes. Stating that the minimum wage must be determined first for an official price hike proposal, Özdemir said, “We will calculate our costs then and make the necessary applications accordingly. But there has been no such cost increase for simit in the last two months.”

News Source: 12punto