Cost of basic goods up significantly

Cost of basic goods up significantly

JAKARTA (JP): The cost of basic commodities in the capital has
risen significantly over the past fortnight, a consequence of
delivery problems following recent floods and mass protests in
several provinces.

Head of city-owned PD Pasar Jaya Syahril Tanjung said on
Friday that the price of basic goods had been increasing
incrementally, with tomatoes incurring the highest rise at 86
percent.

Syahril warned that any respite from the inflationary trend
may not be immediately forthcoming.

"We predict that the increase of market prices will continue
until the end of March. However, the rise is still considered
affordable for residents," Syahril asserted without any further
qualification of the claim.

Syahril said floods which had inundated the Merak-Jakarta toll
road, and outbreaks of mob violence in East Java had hampered the
delivery of fresh vegetables and rice.

Data from the City Economy Development Office reveal that the
price of basic goods, such as rice, meat, vegetables, kerosene
and eggs, had risen by between one percent and three percent.

The market price of tomatoes suffered the highest increase,
rising from Rp 1,990 per kilogram to Rp 3,800 per kilogram.

The market price of red onions increased from Rp 6,045 per
kilogram to Rp 8,800 per kilo.

Similarly coconuts rose from Rp 1,750 each to Rp 2,000 each.

In terms of supply, the city is now experiencing a shortage of
red onion stocks. There are only three tons of red onion stocks
remaining, which has decreased from 7.7 tons in recent weeks.

Rice, a staple food for most Indonesians, has risen slightly
from Rp 2,200 per kilo to Rp 2,300 per kilo, while carrot prices
also rose from Rp 2,615 per kilo to Rp 2,875 per kilo.

Other significant reductions in supply are affecting the
availability of innards, goat and sheep meats, and also some
fruits, such as apples and grapes. (07)