December inflation 0.52%

December inflation 0.52%

JAKARTA (JP): Consumer prices in the capitals of Indonesia's
27 provinces increased by an average of 0.52 percent in December,
bringing the country's inflation to 9.24 percent in 1994, the
Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) announced yesterday.

The bureau reported yesterday that last year's high inflation,
which was far higher than the government's annual target of five
percent, was caused mainly by the 13.93 percent increase in food
prices.

Food prices rose by only 5.1 percent in 1993, while the prices
of housing increased by 15.48 percent, clothing by 7.97 percent
and other goods and services by 9.89 percent.

"But last year's inflation was still lower than the 9.77
percent recorded in 1993," the report said.

It reported that last year, prices for housing rose by 9.09
percent, clothing by 6.08 percent and other goods and services by
4.89 percent.(riz)