Unions confederation files complaint against TurkStat over inflation rate calculations

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The Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK) has filed a criminal complaint against the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) for "forgery in official documents."

The complaint concerns the inflation rate figures announced by the TurkStat, which the KESK said were unreliable and lower than the actual rated.

"According to some private research companies, 79 percent of the public does not believe the official inflation figures. Forty-three percent of the people believe that the inflation rate is over 40 percent," the KESK noted in the complaint filed yesterday (December 29).

The TurkStat figures on employment and inflation rates have long been disputed by economists and opposition parties.

The official annual inflation rate was 21.31 percent in November whereas the Inflation Research Group (ENAG), an independent group of economists, calculated the inflation rate as 58.65 percent.

As wage hikes are determined according to the official inflation rate, the TurkStat has aggrieved workers amid high living costs, the KESK argued.

"TurkStat contradicts its own figures"

The TurkStat's inflation figures contradict its own research and Central Bank surveys, the KESK further noted. "The survey conducted by the Central Bank with 50 participants also gives an idea for inflation. The consumer price index expectation in 2021 was announced as 23.85 percent."

Considering that the agricultural producer price index was 24.35 percent and the industrial producer was 54.62 percent in November, the TurkStat also contradicts its own figures, noted the confederation. (AEK/VK)