Türk-İş: Starvation line, poverty line increased in April

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The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) has released the April report of the "Starvation and Poverty Line Survey," which it conducts every month to reveal the living conditions of employees and the effects of price changes to families' budgets.

For a family of four living in the capital city of Ankara, the "starvation line," which is defined as the minimum food expenditure for a healthy, sufficient and balanced diet, was 2,767 lira (337.5 USD) in April, the report says.

The starvation line increased by 1.14 percent compared to the previous month.

The poverty line, which is defined as the total amount of necessary expenditures such as housing, transportation, education and health, was 9,013 lira (1,099 USD).

The minimum monthly wage in the country is 2,879 lira.

As of the first quarter of the year, the increase in prices was 6.84 percent and the 12-month food inflation rate was 16.56 percent, according to the report.

Price changes were observed in 25 items.

No significant change was found in the prices in the milk, yogurt and cheese group. Minced meat and cubed meat prices increased by 2 lira per kilogram while chicken prices remained the same.

The average kilogram price of fresh fruit and vegetables increased from 7.48 lira to 7.74 lira.

The average price per kilogram of vegetables was 7.45 lira and the average fruit price per kilogram was 8.67 lira. There was a high price increase in rice.

The prices of margarine and olive oil didn't change while butter and sunflower oil prices increased. (HA/VK)