According to the news in Türkiye Newspaper, although there has been no change in fuel, foreign currency and minimum wage for a long time, markets have started a price hike frenzy.
MANY PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN INCREASED
Labels have changed for sunflower and olive oil, cheese, milk and dairy products, tea and sugar, toilet paper and napkins, and household cleaning products.
Some market employees also confirmed that labels have started to be changed.
On the other hand, price differences between markets began to increase. It was observed that there was a difference of 51 lira in the price of the same product in two different markets in the same region or even on the same street.
“OUR EXPENSES ARE INCREASING” DEFENSE
The regional manager of a chain store defended the increases with the following words:
“The increase in production and input costs, storage and energy expenses are reflected in the price increase on the shelves. This is very natural… In addition, logistics expenses are also a significant reason for the increase. There are no serious changes compared to last year. However, prices are increasing in certain groups. This should not be seen only as market profit. “Products coming from wholesalers and manufacturers are also being priced higher. These increases are not opportunism, they are necessary steps for businesses to survive. In addition, workplace rents have increased by more than 60 percent, and all of these are reflected in product prices as expenses.”
MINISTRY OF TRADE IMPOSES PENALTY
As of September 15, the Ministry of Commerce announced that it had imposed administrative fines totaling 327 million 376 thousand 495 TL on 1,274 real and legal persons within the scope of price gouging inspections and sector-based inspections.
The Ministry also announced that inspections were continuing and necessary intervention was being made to those who engage in opportunism in the market.
In addition, companies that engage in stockpiling and opportunism were warned that if they were caught three times in a year, a closure penalty would be imposed.
