Turkey's inflation hits a 19-year high of 36 per cent

A woman changes Turkish lira for USD at a currency exchange shop, in Ankara, Turkey, on Dec. 16, 2021. (Burhan Ozbilici / AP)

ANKARA, Turkey -

Turkey's yearly inflation climbed by the fastest pace in 19 years, jumping to 36.08% in December, official data showed on Monday.

The Turkish Statistical Institute said the consumer price index increased by 13.58% in December from the previous month, further eroding peoples' purchasing power. The yearly increase in food prices was 43.8%, the data showed.

The yearly inflation rate was the highest since September 2002. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party came to power two months later, in November 2002.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan promised a return to single-digit inflation.

"Whatever the reason, we regret that our citizens are faced with such a picture," Erdogan said in reference to Monday's inflation rate. "We are determined to break the neck of inflation and bring it back to single digits as soon as possible."

Inflation has been rising in the country while the Turkish lira has been slumping to record lows after the country's central bank -- under pressure from Erdogan -- cut a key interest rate by 5 percentage points in September.

The weakened lira has made imports, fuel and everyday items more expensive and has left many in the country of some 84 million struggling to buy food and other basic goods. Many have been purchasing foreign currencies and gold to protect their savings.

Last month, Erdogan announced measures to safeguard lira deposits against volatility after the Turkish currency hit an all-time low of 18.36 against the dollar. The lira rebounded following the announcement but has since lost some of those gains. The lira depreciated by around 44% against the dollar last year.

Erdogan insists on lowering borrowing costs to boost growth, even though economists argue that higher interest rates is the way to tame soaring prices.

Earlier on Monday, Erdogan announced that Turkey's exports increased by 32.9% in 2021, to reach "a record" $225.4 billion.

Addressing a group of exporters in a televised speech, Erdogan said the figure amounted to a 7.8% narrowing of Turkey's trade deficit. Turkey would revise its export target for 2022 to US$250 billion, he added.

Meanwhile, the independent Inflation Research Group, made up of academics and former government officials, put the yearly inflation rate at a much higher 83%. It said consumer prices rose by 19.35% in December compared with November.

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