Traditional markets quiet, commodity prices up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Traditional markets were still quiet as the Idul
\nFitri holiday ended yesterday, while commodity prices were higher
\nthan usual.<\/p>\n
Few kiosks were open in Blok M market, while meat, fish, and
\nchicken sellers closed their businesses at 10:00 a.m.<\/p>\n
Only jewelry and gold shops, and kiosks selling vegetables,
\nfruit, medicines, and cakes stayed open until the afternoon.<\/p>\n
Business at the Mayestik and Santa markets, in South Jakarta,
\nwas slow with only a few shops, selling clothes and kitchen
\nutensils, open.<\/p>\n
The Kebayoran Lama market was a little more lively, but
\ntraders were complaining there were fewer buyers because people
\nhad stocked up on food before the Idul Fitri holiday started.<\/p>\n
Traders said the increase in commodity prices was
\nunderstandable as it was not easy to get food these days.<\/p>\n
At Mayestik market, long red chilies cost Rp 11,500 per
\nkilogram, the normal price is Rp 5,000. A few days before Idul
\nFitri they were Rp 10,000 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
Tomatoes, carrots, shallots, meat, chicken, stringbeans, and
\nmustard greens were also more expensive than they had been a few
\ndays before Idul Fitri. The price discrepancy was between Rp 150
\nand Rp 2,000.<\/p>\n
Nayem, a food stall owner who lives near Kebayoran Lama
\nmarket, said, \"Vegetables are expensive, but I must buy them or I
\nwill have to close my stall and stop making money.\"<\/p>\n
Mrs. Munir of Cipete, South Jakarta, said she had to go to the
\nmarket because the vegetables hawkers who operated in her
\nneighborhood had not returned from their hometowns.<\/p>\n
The high prices and lack of buyers have apparently damaged
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
Traders said they had opened just because business was good on
\nthe same day last year.<\/p>\n
Heri Chotib, a vegetable seller in Blok M since 1974 said; \"My
\nturnover is decreasing compared to last year's.\" He said he
\nearned only Rp 18,000 yesterday, far below his expectation. He
\ndid not say how much he had expected.<\/p>\n
Aja Miharja, a vegetable seller at Blok M said he opened his
\nbusiness yesterday because he had abundant stock. \"I'd better
\nsell them rather than let them decay.\"<\/p>\n
Yanto, who sells salt fish in Blok M, also said his turnover
\nwas no good. He said he made Rp 300,000 yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"I made that much because the price of salt fish is high. I
\nsell it for Rp 40,000 per kilogram. Usually I get Rp 2 million a
\nday,\" Yanto said. (13)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traditional-markets-quiet-commodity-prices-up-1447893297",
"image": ""
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