Traders and citizens cite the increase in food seriously affect their pocket while the increase in US dollar continues, also demanded from the authorities to find a solution to this problem.

Cahit Kayar, Director of a Shopping Center in Turkiye's Siirt, stated that the recent hikes had a very negative effect on them. "The rising prices especially in basic vegetables, tomatoes, oil, sugar, rice group have seriously affected on us. If the increments go on like that, citizens will not be able to shop, nor will we be able to do business. We are in a lot of trouble," he added.

Stating that the purchasing power of the citizens has fallen by half, Kayar said:

"If we give an example at the white meat's price, we cannot sell chicken meat under 8.5-9 Turkish liras we had sold for 7.5 TL in Ramadan. There is a 15 or 20 percent decrease in out sells when comparing to the previous years. There is a big drop in the sales of oil and tomato paste, especially basic foods."

"Purchasing power has fallen and food prices have risen"

Zeki Sevilgen says they cannot buy anything because the products are expensive. "The minimum wage we get is not enough. I bought a few pieces of cleaning and supplies from the market, but I cannot buy my other needs.  There is a rise in the prices of all the products. The price of the egg [30-pices] is now 15 TL, the vegetable prices rose in the same pattern. Our state should say no to this rise and find a solution."

Nurettin Eren, on the other hand, said that in general, it is a 20 percent increase in the price of food and that the authorities have urgent need to find a solution to the rising food prices. (Murat Orhan- ILKHA)