Children's Clothing Sales May Slump, But Street Cart Fried Snacks and Iced Tea Remain Brisk
Children’s Clothing Sales May Slump, But Street Cart Fried Snacks and Iced Tea Remain Brisk
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Different products sold lead to different fates for vendors’ turnover. Such conditions were revealed from CNBC Indonesia’s observations in the Tanah Abang Market area and surroundings, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
There are vendors who complain and are starting to become sceptical because prices of goods are creeping up, but there are also those who claim sales and demand remain normal.
Take Limei, a seller of children’s clothing in Tanah Abang Market. She revealed that her customers are starting to reduce the volume of purchases.
“My regulars are starting to reduce the amount they buy here, to resell. Because their own sales are sluggish, so they end up buying less here. What used to be a sackful, now only half a sack,” said Limei.
“Society’s purchasing power is waning again. Now everything’s prices are going up. Plastic prices up, fuel prices up, staple goods prices up too. People tend to be more frugal in buying other things, including clothing,” she explained.
Fried Snacks Continue to Sell Briskly
However, other vendors are experiencing different conditions. As recounted by a seller of light food and drinks in front of Tanah Abang Station.
Dewi, a tahu bakso vendor, said that the price increases have not yet impacted her tahu bakso sales. In fact, her stock always sells out.
“If you say the sluggish economy affects tahu bakso, no, or maybe not yet. It’s still busy with buyers, this batch just finished so I’m frying more first,” said Dewi.
Dewi sells tahu bakso for Rp2,500 each.
“Usually people buy four, Rp10,000, but there are those who buy more, there are still plenty who buy more than Rp10,000,” she explained.
The same goes for Intan, a seller of es teh solo. She said her sales are still normal, even though the price of es teh solo has increased.
“Not yet impacted, even though the price of es teh solo has gone up to Rp5,000, people are still buying a lot,” said Intan.
Moreover, with the current hot weather in Jakarta, buyers are still numerous in purchasing iced tea.
“Jakarta is hot right now, people definitely still need refreshing drinks. Basically, here there’s no impact from the price increases yet,” she stated.