STORY: Türkiye to see annual inflation down 20 pct by year-end
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 24, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:14
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Istanbul city
2. various of Turkish finance minister
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): MEHMET SIMSEK, Turkish Finance Minister
4. various of the economy conference in Istanbul
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): MEHMET SIMSEK, Turkish Finance Minister
6. various of the conference
7. various of people on the streets in Türkiye
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): AHMET ENES KESKIN, Teacher
9. SOUNDBITE 4 (Turkish): EGE YUCEL, University student

STORYLINE:

Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said in Istanbul on Tuesday that while Türkiye's inflation remained high, a decrease of 20 percentage points is anticipated by the year's end as part of the government's comprehensive strategy to stabilize prices.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): MEHMET SIMSEK, Turkish Finance Minister
"At the beginning of the year, inflation was 65 percent. If we close the year at 44-45 percent, there will be a decrease of around 20 percentage points, and this is not a bad decline."

Simsek noted that the government is implementing a comprehensive set of policies, including monetary, fiscal, structural, income, and price ones, which will ensure price stability and contribute to disinflation in 2025.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): MEHMET SIMSEK, Turkish Finance Minister
"We are implementing a program to bring inflation down to a single-digit figure permanently, and we are continuing with this program with patience and determination."

Türkiye's annual inflation rate eased to 47.09 percent in November, marking its lowest point since June 2023.

Although inflation is on a downward trend, many Turkish consumers are canceling or scaling back New Year shopping and festivities as they weather financial struggles.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): AHMET ENES KESKIN, Teacher
"Because of economic woes, I had to cut down on my holiday and travel expenses, inflation has hit me hard on this subject. I still love very much the spirit of New Year because I gather with the people I love."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Turkish): EGE YUCEL, University student
"Our budgets keep shrinking. For the last five years, we have seen our New Year's budgets getting smaller and smaller, and prices are constantly rising. Hope needs to be alive. We have to keep hoping for a brighter future."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)