STORY: Rising clothing prices highlight economic struggles for Turks as winter nears
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 27, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 1, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:41
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of shops in Türkiye
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): OGUZHAN SERT, Manager of a women's boutique
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): BULENT ECEVIT, Customer

STORYLINE:

In Ankara, Türkiye's capital, the crisp autumn air carries more than just the promise of winter -- it also brings with it the stark reality of economic hardship for many of the city's residents.

As Türkiye grapples with ongoing economic challenges, including high inflation and a weakened currency, ordinary citizens find themselves caught in a financial vise. 
   
The clothing industry, a pillar of Türkiye's economy and a major employer, finds itself at the center of this economic storm. Türkiye has long been proud of its position as the third-largest supplier of apparel to Europe, benefiting from its strategic location bridging two continents. However, the sector is now facing unprecedented pressures.
   
Oguzhan Sert, manager of a women's boutique on Tunali Hilmi Avenue, a popular shopping destination, offered a shopkeeper's perspective.
   
"Our costs have skyrocketed -- raw materials, labor, everything. We've had to nearly double our prices compared to last year just to stay afloat," he explained, gesturing to the racks of coats and sweaters behind him. "But how can we expect people to buy when their wages haven't kept pace?"

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): OGUZHAN SERT, Manager of a women's boutique
"People who earn the minimum wage cannot buy anything new. They tend to look for discounts or go to places where apparel is more affordable.
Although we are located on the high street, we struggle as a business. Things are difficult." 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): BULENT ECEVIT, Customer
"I struggle a lot as someone who earns the minimum wage. Everything is very expensive and our purchasing power has declined. It is impossible to make ends meet. Inflation is decreasing, but our wages are not increasing. So consumers are facing hardships." 

The government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has implemented a disinflation program aimed at curbing runaway prices. Official figures show some success, with year-on-year inflation dropping to 52 percent in August from a peak of over 75 percent in May.
   
Erdogan himself has declared that Türkiye is "leaving the difficult economic times behind," projecting confidence in a "solid and sustainable decline" in inflation.
   
Yet for many on the streets of Ankara, relief seems distant. The disconnection between official optimism and daily reality is palpable. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)