Turkey Inflation Likely Neared 70% in March Ahead of Elections

  • Prices may have spiraled on weaker lira, according to survey
  • Increased demand for currency in runup to polls impacted data

Turkey is prone to policy swings after elections. 

Photographer: Nicole Tung/Bloomberg
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Turkish inflation probably surged to almost 70% in March, as the lira weakened on concerns Sunday’s local elections could have prompted a currency rout.

Analysts expect data due on Wednesday to show prices accelerated to 69% on an annual basis last month, up from 67.1% in February, according to a survey conducted by Bloomberg. Monthly inflation — the main gauge that policymakers use — likely slowed to 3.5% from 4.5%, according to a separate poll, still higher than in the preceding quarter.