ISTANBUL: Turkey’s official inflation rate spiralled to nearly 70 per cent in April, data showed on Thursday, posing a huge challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose unconventional economic policies are often blamed for the economic turmoil.

The consumer price index rose by 69.97pc year-on-year in April compared with 61.14pc in March, the national statistics agency said.

Erdogan insists that sharp cuts in interest rates are needed to bring down soaring consumer prices, flying in the face of economic orthodoxy.

The collapse of the lira has pushed up the cost of energy imports and foreign investors are now turning away from the once-promising emerging market.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic have exacerbated the energy price spikes and production bottlenecks.

Turkey’s annual inflation rate — the highest since Erdogan’s ruling AKP party rose to power in 2002, is largely linked to his unconventional economic thinking, analysts say. Erdogan has put pressure on the nominally independent central bank to slash interest rates.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2022