Türk-İş announced… The poverty line exceeded 50 thousand liras! Single worker’s monthly ‘cost of living’ exceeds new minimum wage

The February 2024 results of the “Hunger and Poverty Line Survey”, which Türk-İş conducts every month to reveal the living conditions of employees and to determine the reflections of price changes in basic necessities on the family budget, have been announced.

The monthly food expenditure (hunger limit) that a family of four living in Ankara must make in order to have a healthy, balanced and adequate diet has increased to 16 thousand 257 liras.

The total amount of food expenditure and other mandatory monthly expenses for clothing, housing (rent, electricity, water, fuel), transportation, education, health and similar needs (poverty limit) was measured as 52 thousand 954 lira.

The ‘cost of living’ of a single employee increased to 21 thousand 189 liras per month. According to Türk-İş’s report, the change in “kitchen inflation” data was calculated as a monthly increase of 8.03 percent, a 12-month increase of 72.49 percent and an annual average of 77.20 percent for a family of four living in Ankara in February 2024.

The change in prices of food products, which is the basis of the TÜRK-İŞ calculation and compiled directly from the market by going from market to market, was as follows according to spending groups as of February 2024:

In the milk, yoghurt and cheese group;

The reflection of the increase in raw milk prices last month showed itself on the shelves this month. The average increase in milk, yoghurt and cheese prices was calculated as 4.50 TL for milk, 31.50 TL for cheese and 6.50 TL for yoghurt.

Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, legumes are in the group of products;

The highest increase in meat prices this month was 31 percent in the price of lamb cubes. The increase in ground beef and cubed prices was calculated as 15 percent. Among fish products, a partial decrease in the price of haddock and an increase in the price of anchovy was observed. As always, the calculations were based on commonly sold fish, so no change in average fish prices was detected.

The price of eggs remained stable this month. Chicken took its place in the markets at an average price of 83 TL per kilogram.

In the dried legumes group, an increase was detected in the prices of chickpeas, beans and lentils, as in other products. Green lentils, whose average price per kilogram last month was 86 TL, were on the shelves in the markets for 98 TL this month.

In the fresh fruit and vegetables group;

It was the fresh fruit and vegetable spending group that eased kitchen expenses this month – albeit slightly. The fact that the prices of seasonal products remained constant and some decreases in some products contributed to the difficult living conditions.

While no change was detected in the prices of seasonal green leafy vegetables such as leeks and spinach and cabbage, the prices of products considered indispensable in the kitchen such as potatoes and onions remained constant, but the price per kilogram of potatoes was above 20 TL – despite a discount in some markets. One thing that attracted attention this month was the observation that, unlike other months, broad beans started to appear on the stalls.

In fruit prices, prices of other products remained stable except bananas. It was determined that there was a partial decrease in the prices of oranges and tangerines, which are the most preferred during the winter months and are widely seen on market stalls.

The average price per kg of vegetables (not including salad greens such as parsley, lettuce, etc., which complement the main dishes) was 32.44 TL, and the average price per kg of fruit was 32.61 TL. In the calculation – this month – price changes in a total of 37 products, 26 of which were vegetables and 11 fruits, were taken into account. The average price per kg of fruits and vegetables was determined as 32.49 TL (salad greens such as parsley and lettuce, which complement the main dishes, are included in the “Average Price of Fruits and Vegetables” in this calculation).

The group includes products such as bread, rice, flour, pasta, bulgur and semolina;

The price of bread did not change this month. In the cereals group, except for pasta, there was a limited increase this month – as was the case last month. An average increase of 1 TL per kilogram was calculated in rice, flour, bulgur and semolina prices. Chart 2: Change in Food Expenditure percentage Feb’23 Dec’23 Jan’24 Feb’24 Rate of Change Compared to the Previous Month 6.32 2.89 4.27 8.03 Rate of Change Compared to December of the Previous Year 15.92 77, 50 4.27 12.64 Rate of Change as of the Last Twelve Months 107.03 77.50 69.76 72.49 Rate of Change in Twelve Month Averages 112.87 82.21 79.44 77.20

Considering the upcoming month of Ramadan, the price of pita was determined as 15 TL for 250 grams. Thus, the increase in the price of pita per kilogram was 80 percent compared to the previous Ramadan.

In the group containing essential oil products;

An increase in the prices of all products in the group containing essential oil products was detected. Olive oil, whose price per kilogram last month was 330 TL, was on the market shelves at 338 TL this month, and butter, which was 369 TL per kilogram last month, was on the market shelves at an average price of 435 TL this month. Likewise, olive prices also increased. Black olives were sold for an average of 245 TL, and green olives were sold for an average of 208 TL.

Oilseeds (walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts and sunflower seeds), which had an average price of 339 TL last month, are sold for an average of 392 TL per kilogram, with an increase of 53 TL.

SUGAR, SALT LINDEN PRICE HAS NOT CHANGED

In this group, spices were on the shelves for an average price of 573 TL (cumin, mint, black pepper, etc.) and tea for an average price of 140 TL. Sugar, salt and linden prices did not change this month. A decrease of 60 kuruş was detected in the price of tomato paste.

The price per kilogram of honey increased from 295 TL to 322 TL. “Similarly, an average increase of 15 TL per kilogram of molasses and jam prices was detected.”