life a few months ago marbling and his family got worse. Previously she, her husband and three daughters could go out to eat out several times a month; inside Supermarketthey didn’t look too much at prices and when she made her shopping list she considered diversifying the food. to fill the stomach.
“I went to the market the other day and bought a tomato and three peppers. donate the clothesline, because I was so embarrassed. He said to me, ‘Don’t worry, Ebru’. You are not. no one buys anymore more than two peppers and one cucumber’. How embarrassing I suffered… I felt so bad,” says this woman. minimum wagetwo salaries at home, but even that is not enough.
Reason runaway inflation This shakes Turkey. While annual inflation in Europe is around 8% – a record 10.8% in Spain-, official inflation in the Anatolian country is rising rapidly. 81%despite the company’s independent investigation ENAGgroup put this number 176%.
“Society poorer every day; Every day the situation is getting worse. The government is also trying to solve the problem with slogans, but this does not fill their stomachs. people want to buy fruit, basic necessities, vegetables, flour… And now we are in a period where the majority of Turkish society cannot meet the minimum daily nutritional needs,” he explains. Veysel UlusoyENAGgroup director and professor Yeditepe University.
to buy meat
According to a recent survey, more than half of Turks have completely stopped or drastically reduced their meals. meat consumption. The rise in prices in the market is dizzying: the numbers are almost changing dailyand refilling the basket now costs significantly more than a week ago; It was another world last year.
Even restaurants, prices are no longer printed on the menus, they are placed on the label on the label on the label, the numbers are updated, always up. “We can’t buy meat anymore. Girls used to eat meat twice a week. But not anymore. I’m trying to get it. some chickensbut I can do it once in 10 days…” Ebru complains.
“Incredible. When I get my salary, it goes to waste. hireI pay the bills. And that’s it. There is no more. I can’t buy the girls anything, the slightest detail, or go anywhere. none school books‘, adds this woman.
A wave of strikes and demonstrations swept through Turkey in the spring, prompting the government to Recep Tayyip Erdogan Raise the inter-professional minimum wage for the second time in six months 5.500 Turkish Liraequivalent 300 euros. this average rent In Istanbul, the largest city in the country, this figure is around.
The secret is in numbers.
The situation is so dire that, according to economist Ulusoy, the government is “tightening” the figures. investors He said that inflation did not reach three digits.
But Ulusoy and ENAGgroup members are convinced he has it. For this they pay the consequences: legal action and threats of dismissal. Ulusoy says, “They know that the real figure is what we give, and that’s why we are determined to continue despite the government’s obstacles. The truth is, what are the people on the street doing?”
“There are investigations about us, there are lawsuits, they will come to us. convictions in the near future. But it does not matter. Here we go”, continues this economist.
Meanwhile, the Turks’ struggle for survival continues, with a war mostly in Ukraine causing energy prices to skyrocket around the world. Turkey – like most Europe– must import most of the energy it consumes.
“How old am I? What have I done in this life?” Ebru wonders. All my efforts are so that my girls can read and read. come where i can’t getSo that they can sleep in a comfortable bed, eat properly, live in a nice house, make a living by reading… I can’t take it. i am unsuccessful. Can a girl be told to eat less than she wants because there is no more?