A Portrait of Indonesia's Economy: Cigarettes Bought on Credit and Scrimping to Buy Eggs

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The activity at Madura stalls, usually busy with customers coming and going, has begun to show changes in recent times. The decline in daily transaction volumes is felt by several stall owners, particularly in areas with many daily wage workers. ‘Yes, indeed, every day it’s sometimes quiet, sometimes, praise be, okay. But lately it’s been a bit quiet; I don’t know why,’ said Lita, a Madura stall keeper in the Ciputat area of South Tangerang, when contacted by CNBC Indonesia on Thursday, 21 May 2026. These conditions were most noticeable at hours that used to be busy with customers. However, recently the number of customers arriving has been inconsistent and varies from day to day. Changes in purchasing power have also begun to show in cigarette purchasing habits. If previously many customers bought in full quantities, now some consumers prefer to buy in smaller amounts. This condition is one of the simple indicators often visible directly at small shops. Purchasing on a ‘ngeteng’ basis is now seen more frequently than some time earlier. ‘Buying on ngeteng, some also take first, then pay after their salary is paid,’ Lita said when asked about changes in customers’ cigarette-buying patterns. Not far from that location, another Madura stall keeper, Doni, also acknowledged that purchasing power has fallen. His stall, which supplies staple goods, also feels the impact of people becoming increasingly frugal. ‘Even eggs, for example, from customers who used to buy 1 kg when they come, now reduced to a quarter (250 grams), if I may say, the situation is because it’s like this,’ Doni told CNBC Indonesia, Thursday, 21 May 2026.