Food prices increase by 30% during 'Ramadhan'<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta
\nPost, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Although the prices of most foods have increased by about 30
\npercent due to growing demand for the fasting month and the
\nupcoming Idul Fitri celebrations, consumers are undeterred, with
\nmost insisting on serving specialties during the fasting month.<\/p>\n
Vendors at traditional markets said on Monday that prices for
\nbasic food ingredients such as flour, eggs and sugar, had started
\nto rise since the previous week. So far, stocks for the items
\nremain stable.<\/p>\n
According to Mulia, a grocery vendor at Pasar Minggu market in
\nSouth Jakarta, an increase of between Rp 500 and Rp 1,000 per
\nkilogram had affected each item.<\/p>\n
Sugar, for example, was being sold for between Rp 3,600 and Rp
\n4,000 per kilogram. Several days before Ramadhan, it valued Rp
\n3,000 per kilo. The increase for palm sugar was among the
\nhighest, reaching Rp 5,000 per kilo while before Ramadhan it was
\nsold at only Rp 3,700 per kilo.<\/p>\n
\"Muslims likes sweet snacks for breaking the fast, that's why
\nthe prices of those ingredients have risen,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost, adding that Muslims usually spent more money during
\nRamadhan.<\/p>\n
Cooking oil, butter, wheat flour, nuts, and coconuts, are also
\nin high demand, causing the prices of those items to increase by
\nan average of about 20 percent.<\/p>\n
At Senen market in Central Jakarta, most items are being sold
\nin the same price range as Pasar Minggu. The price of eggs has
\nincreased Rp 500 and it was now sold at Rp 7,500 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
Flour has seen an increase from Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,000 per
\nkilogram, while rice remains stable at Rp 3,800 for the highest
\nquality, with vendors confirming that rice deliveries from East
\nand West Java have not been disrupted.<\/p>\n
Customers, on the other hand, did not appear to be surprised
\nby the temporary hike, as they had experienced the same condition
\nin previous years and were now prepared.<\/p>\n
\"I have saved more money for Ramadhan and Idul Fitri. We are
\ntalking about tradition,\" said Tanti, a housewife shopping at
\nPasar Minggu, adding that she always serves special dishes in her
\nhouse for the breaking of the fast.<\/p>\n
At the Cikini market in Central Jakarta, prices were slightly
\nhigher compared to other traditional markets, but residents
\nliving in the area said they had expected the price hike.<\/p>\n
\"It's like this each year. I'm not at all surprised,\" said
\nNani Rahardi.<\/p>\n
Customers at the traditional market said their family
\nexpenditure usually increased by about 20 percent during Ramadhan
\nand another 50 percent during Idul Fitri.<\/p>",
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