A number of Turkish supermarket chains have introduced quotas on items such as flour, oil and milk, as prices continue to rise amid economic turmoil, Karar newspaper reported on Sunday, Ahval reports.
Grocery stores in Istanbul have placed a limitation of two cartons of milk per customer, while other various restrictions have been placed on staple items such as oil and flour, the newspaper cited customers and supermarket staff as saying.
The measures arrive as the Turkish lira has weakened 30 percent against the dollar since late October as the central bank cut interest rates amid soaring inflation.
Inflation in the country climbed to an annual 20.7 percent in November, with food prices rising 27.1 percent on average, according to official data.
The currency has lost around 40 percent of its value this year as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to double down on his unorthodox economic policy of keeping borrowing costs low.
“There are quotas on oil and cigarettes,” a grocery store employee in Istanbul’s Fatih district said. “For example, you cannot purchase more than 2 packages of 5 kg. oil. Our aim is to be able to sell products to everyone and never turn a customer away.’’
Erdoğan has accused suppliers who stockpile products for food inflation and announced that he is preparing to impose strong penalties over the matter.
