STORY: Turks' New Year wishlist highlights lingering economic chill
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 18, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 20, 2023
LENGTH: 0:03:06
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people on the streets and those shopping in Türkiye
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): SERPIL BAHAR, Former nurse, Pensioner
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): OYA SEN, Former teacher, Pensioner
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): ARDA KARAGUN, University student

STORYLINE:

It's New Year shopping season in Türkiye's capital city Ankara but inflation-hit consumers cannot meet their wishlist because of a lackluster economy.

In the Kizilay district, considered the commercial heart of the city, the mood among shoppers is bleak as they told Xinhua that because of high inflation their purchasing power dropped significantly.

Due to financial constraints, consumers said that they plan to limit gift-giving to close family or not celebrate New Year at all.

Türkiye has been in the grip of staggering inflation for several years and the situation is expected to get worse before it improves.

Inflation has slightly risen to nearly 62 percent in November. It is expected to peak at 75 percent in May before gradually decreasing in the second half of 2024, according to the Turkish government.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): SERPIL BAHAR, Former nurse, Pensioner
"It seems that the shopping we did for the New Year in the old days is finished. People used to wait for the New Year to exchange gifts, but sadly this is not the case anymore. I am planning to buy some gifts for my closest ones, but it's very difficult with these prices. Everything is expensive." 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): OYA SEN, Former teacher, Pensioner
"Every day, prices go up, and our purchasing power is diminishing, this is particularly the case for old age pensioners in our country. This is much worse (than previous years). When I retired, I received two and a half times more than the minimum wage as my pension which is now the same as the minimum wage." 

SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): ARDA KARAGUN, University student
"We have decided to organize a raffle with friends and exchange gifts, but prices are a bit expensive. Yet I still like to give and receive gifts for the New Year. The pocket money that I receive from my parents is largely insufficient to meet my needs." 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)