The Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) announced the inflation data for August the other day. According to the data announced by TURKSTAT, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 80,21 percent annually. According to the data published by the Inflation Research Group (ENAG), annual inflation was announced as 181,37 percent. Although the citizens want to rely on the data of TURKSTAT, the serious increases in bazaar and market prices reveal the gravity of the situation. Aziz Koçal, President of the Consumer Protection Association (TÜKODER), made a written press statement regarding the data announced by TURKSTAT.
“REAL DATA IS HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC”
Aziz Koçal, Chairman of the Consumer Protection Association, said, “As always, TURKSTAT provided a faulty service by announcing the figures well below the actual inflation this month. Actual data are hidden from the public. One of the duties of TURKSTAT is to provide and analyze data that can be quantified in the country, to determine the needs of the society and the state, and to to compare it with international data and to take part in the production and planning of solutions. As it can be seen, TURKSTAT provides a faulty service because it explains the data that it should present impartially and objectively, behind the truth.”
“INFLATION THAT THE PUBLIC FEELS, IS HIGHER THAN TURKSTAT ANNOUNCED”
Koçal said, “TURKSTAT is a public data collection institution, its duty is to measure data accurately, it is public duty to inform the public correctly. We invite TURKSTAT to explain the real figures objectively, transparently and independently. You have to explain to the public the reason for the high difference between the figures announced by the two institutions above and the figures announced by TURKSTAT. As workers, retirees and low-income people, the inflation that we, the people, feel is much higher than that announced by TURKSTAT. TURKSTAT is not an inflation-fighting institution. The tutelage over TURKSTAT should now be ended. On the other hand, the figures announced show that almost 95 percent of our country's population lives with hunger and poverty.”
“SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR 20 YEARS”
Stating that policies should not be shaped according to the interests of a happy minority, “According to Türk-İş Labour Unions Confederation data, the hunger limit has been 6,840 Turkish Liras (TL) and the poverty line has been 22,280 TL. The cost of living for a single person is 8,930 TL. The hunger limit has risen well above the minimum wage. You can't set policy based on the living standards of a happy 5 percent minority. Go to the people's kitchen, see the inflation there. There are no words to describe the situation of the retirees. We want to live humanely. Let's not keep our children's eyes on the store windows. The point reached by 29,7 percent inflation in 2002 is 80,21 percent today. Those who state that they will fight inflation should make an account of the past 20 years,” Aziz Koçal added.