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Turkey’s Food Inflation Jumps to 6-Month High in September

food inflation

Turkey’s food prices accelerated sharply in September 2025, with the TEPAV Food Price Index (TEGE) recording a 2.81% monthly rise, the highest in six months and the second-highest since March. The findings point to mounting pressure on household budgets as everyday staples become increasingly expensive.

Monthly Inflation Peaks Again

According to the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), the September surge marked the steepest monthly increase since March’s 3.25% jump. The trajectory of recent months highlights the volatility of food costs:

  • March: +3.25%

  • April: +2.68%

  • May: +1.21%

  • June: +0.11%

  • July: +0.73%

  • August: +2.58%

  • September: +2.81%

This pattern reveals that after a calmer summer, food inflation picked up again, straining consumer purchasing power just as living costs are already at historic highs.

TÜRK-İŞ Confirms Higher Kitchen Inflation

Other indicators confirm the trend. TÜRK-İŞ, which calculates monthly kitchen inflation, reported a sharper 3.17% increase in September. On an annual basis, TEGE placed food inflation at 31.5%, while TÜRK-İŞ’s data showed a much higher 41%, reflecting methodological differences but underlining the same reality: food inflation remains stubbornly high.

Product-Level Price Movements

September’s price hikes were not uniform—some items dropped while others soared.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

  • Biggest drops: lemon, cucumber, watermelon.

  • Biggest spikes: green peppers (sivri biber), bell peppers (çarliston), and lettuce (kıvırcık).

Other Food Products

Outside produce, the sharpest increases were seen in pistachios (Antep fıstığı), offal (sakatat), and jams. In contrast, prices fell for Turkish delight (lokum), sunflower seeds, and cocoa-based powdered drinks.

The standout surge in pistachios reflects global supply pressures and local demand, while the steep rise in peppers highlights how volatile vegetable prices can swing household spending.

Annual Inflation Still Biting

Looking at the bigger picture, annual food inflation remains a pressing issue. TEGE’s 31.5% figure already signals deep strain, but TÜRK-İŞ’s 41% paints an even grimmer picture for households, particularly low-income families who spend a larger share of their income on food.

Why It Matters

Food inflation is one of the most visible and painful aspects of Turkey’s economic challenges. Even small monthly increases accumulate quickly, reshaping family budgets and forcing consumers to cut back or substitute cheaper, often less nutritious items. The September data suggests that Turkey’s food inflation problem is far from over, and with winter approaching, costs could rise further as seasonal supply pressures intensify.

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