Essential Commodity Prices Rising in Jember Ahead of Eid

JAKARTA — Ahead of Eid al-Fitr, prices for several essential commodities in Jember Regency, East Java, have begun to rise. Even some commodities are being sold above the government’s maximum retail price (HET).

Data from the Jember Cooperative, Micro and Trade Service recorded that of 21 monitored commodities, 13 have experienced price increases.

Commodities experiencing price increases include premium and medium grade rice, granulated sugar, bulk and premium-packaged cooking oil, pure beef, broiler chicken meat, hen eggs, large red chilli, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes and carrots.

The Head of the Jember Cooperative, Micro and Trade Service, Sartini, stated that several commodities have even exceeded the government-set HET.

“Then there are some that have exceeded the HET, such as our cooking oil, imported soybeans and red onions,” Sartini said when confirmed at the Jember Regional Development Planning Agency on Friday (13 March 2026).

However, not all commodities have experienced price increases. Some food items have actually recorded price declines.

One of them is small red chilli, which previously ranged around Rp95,185 per kilogram and has now declined to Rp88,852 per kilogram.

According to Sartini, the regional government together with the Jember Food Task Force has undertaken various market interventions during Ramadhan to curb price increases.

“Market operations and cheap markets are being conducted daily,” she said.

Head of Perum Bulog Jember Branch Ade Saputra explained that traders actually already have profit margins because the purchase price from Bulog is lower compared with the HET.

“Because traders buying from Bulog pay Rp14,500,” he said.

With such a price difference, according to Ade, traders already have profit margin without having to sell above the HET.

“Regarding price increases exceeding the HET, we can later also convey this to the Food Task Force team,” Ade said.

Meanwhile, Commission B member of the Jember Regional House of Representatives Nilam Noor Fadilah Wulandari believed the regional government needs to formulate policies to keep essential commodity prices stable until Eid.

“The district government is obliged to be present in formulating policies regarding prices and ensuring the availability of essential commodities continues to exist,” she said.