Turkey’s annual inflation on the rise: 17.14 percent

* Photo: Serhat Çetinkaya / AA

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The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the state agency commissioned with producing official statistics on the country, shared the "Consumer Price Index" statistics for April 2021 today (May 3).

According to the TurkStat figures, the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 17.14 percent annually and 1.68 percent monthly. Measured as 16.19 percent in March 2021, the annual increase of 17.14 percent in April has marked the highest figure recorded since May 2019.

The Institute has announced that the CPI increased by 1.68 percent when compared to the previous month, by 5.45 percent when compared to December 2020, by 17.14 percent when compared to April 2020 and by 13.70 percent based on the twelve months moving averages.

Highest annual increase: Transportation

The lowest annual increase was 3.60 percent in alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Communication with 9.05 percent, education with 10.21 percent and clothing and footwear with 11.03 percent, were the other main groups where lowest annual increases were observed.

On the other hand, transportation with 29.31 percent, furnishings and household equipment with 22.27 percent and health with 19.20 percent were the main groups with high annual increases in prices.

Highest monthly increase: Clothing, footwear

The highest monthly decrease was 0.28 percent in communication. Furnishing and household equipment with 0.03 percent was the other group that indicated monthly decrease amongst the main groups.

Health with 0.56 percent and alcoholic beverages and tobacco with 0.73 percent were the main groups that indicated lowest monthly increase.

On the other hand, clothing and footwear with 7.57 percent, food and non-alcoholic beverages with 2.13 percent and education with 2.09 percent were the main groups with high monthly increases.

Price increase in 281 items

In April 2021, within average prices of 415 items in the index, the average prices of 92 items decreased and the average prices of 42 items remained unchanged while the average prices of 281 items increased.

According to the TurkStat, a rise in the CPI excluding unprocessed food, energy, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and gold was realized on the basis of the the previous month by 1.65 percent, on December of the previous year by 5.44 percent, on same month of the previous year by 18.11 percent and on the twelve months moving averages basis by 13.82 percent in April 2021. (HA/SD)