Turkey's central bank said on Thursday it had cut its main policy rate for the fourth consecutive month despite high inflation.

On the wishes of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the bank said it had lowered its benchmark rate from 10.5 per cent to nine per cent.

With the latest cut, the rate has reached "a sufficient level with regard to growing risks concerning global demand", the bank's council said in a written statement. It has therefore "decided to put an end to the cycle of lowering interest rates which began in August", it added.

Erdogan had vowed to lower interest rates to single digits by the end of the year as he prioritises economic growth and jobs over price stability ahead of a general election next June.

Last year, interest rates fell from 19 per cent in September to 14 per cent in December. They remained stable this year until the summer but have been cut every month since, while inflation has soared.

Turkey's monetary policymakers are bucking the global trend of central banks raising interest rates to combat inflation, as high borrowing rates cool down the economy and prices.

Erdogan, a vocal opponent of higher borrowing costs, has called high interest rates his "biggest enemy". But the unconventional economic model has contributed to a plunge in the value of the lira.

The Turkish currency has fallen 28.5 per cent against the dollar since the beginning of January, after losing 44 per cent last year.

Turkish inflation surged past 85% in October, its highest level since 1998, official data shows. Independent economists say the actual rate is more than twice as high.

Turkish inflation surged past 85 per cent in October, its highest level since 1998, official data shows. Independent economists, however, say the actual rate is more than twice as high.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.