Consumer prices fluctuate

JAKARTA (JP): Consumer prices in Jakarta fluctuated from the second week of January to yesterday, according to a city economic bureau survey.

The price of rice fell 2.7 percent to 11.1 percent while sugar, salted fish and flour rose by between 3.3 percent and 5.8 percent.

Vegetables rose between 0.8 percent to 8.6 percent. While fruits like Ambon bananas, Malang apples and Medan oranges increased sharply by between 2.9 percent to 12.5 percent.

A North Jakarta municipality survey confirmed milkfish rose to Rp 8,000 a kg from Rp 7,000 a kg. Garlic rose by between Rp 8,000 to Rp 9,000 a kg from Rp 6,500 a kg.

A councilor of Indonesian Democratic Party observed earlier this month the urgency of conducting market operations to curb consumer prices rising. Sahala P. Sinaga said prices would rise unless the agency conducted operations immediately.

Consumer good prices rose in December because of increased demand for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The Indonesian Consumer Foundation said price hikes before New Year would continue until Idul Fitri in early February. (11)