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Türkiye's food inflation rose 1.21% in May, according to data released by the Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation, as the country continues to grapple with elevated food costs affecting household budgets.
The foundation, known by its Turkish acronym TEPAV, which stands for Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation, published its Food Price Index showing the monthly increase for May. The figure contrasts with higher estimates from other Turkish institutions tracking food costs.
The Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions calculated kitchen inflation at 4.4% for May, while the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Consumer Price Index recorded 3.24%. The chamber's Wage Earners' Cost of Living Index showed a more modest 0.09% increase.
Annual food inflation reached 30.6% as of May 2025 according to TEPAV's index. Other measures showed even higher yearly rates, with the trade unions' kitchen inflation index at 32.3%, the Istanbul chamber's consumer index at 40.5%, and its wage earners' index at 35.8%.
Price movements varied significantly across food categories in May. Among fresh fruits and vegetables, pointed peppers, Charleston peppers and cucumbers saw the steepest price declines. Conversely, lemons, kiwis and oranges experienced sharp price increases.
Outside the fresh produce category, dried apricots, Antep pistachios and margarine recorded the largest price jumps. Fish, eggs and buttermilk prices declined during the month.
The diverging inflation measures reflect different methodologies and product baskets used by various Turkish institutions to track food costs, though all point to sustained pressure on food prices affecting Turkish consumers.
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