Food prices increase by 30% during 'Ramadhan'

Annastashya Emmanuelle and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Although the prices of most foods have increased by about 30 percent due to growing demand for the fasting month and the upcoming Idul Fitri celebrations, consumers are undeterred, with most insisting on serving specialties during the fasting month.

Vendors at traditional markets said on Monday that prices for basic food ingredients such as flour, eggs and sugar, had started to rise since the previous week. So far, stocks for the items remain stable.

According to Mulia, a grocery vendor at Pasar Minggu market in South Jakarta, an increase of between Rp 500 and Rp 1,000 per kilogram had affected each item.

Sugar, for example, was being sold for between Rp 3,600 and Rp 4,000 per kilogram. Several days before Ramadhan, it valued Rp 3,000 per kilo. The increase for palm sugar was among the highest, reaching Rp 5,000 per kilo while before Ramadhan it was sold at only Rp 3,700 per kilo.

"Muslims likes sweet snacks for breaking the fast, that's why the prices of those ingredients have risen," he told The Jakarta Post, adding that Muslims usually spent more money during Ramadhan.

Cooking oil, butter, wheat flour, nuts, and coconuts, are also in high demand, causing the prices of those items to increase by an average of about 20 percent.

At Senen market in Central Jakarta, most items are being sold in the same price range as Pasar Minggu. The price of eggs has increased Rp 500 and it was now sold at Rp 7,500 per kilogram.

Flour has seen an increase from Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,000 per kilogram, while rice remains stable at Rp 3,800 for the highest quality, with vendors confirming that rice deliveries from East and West Java have not been disrupted.

Customers, on the other hand, did not appear to be surprised by the temporary hike, as they had experienced the same condition in previous years and were now prepared.

"I have saved more money for Ramadhan and Idul Fitri. We are talking about tradition," said Tanti, a housewife shopping at Pasar Minggu, adding that she always serves special dishes in her house for the breaking of the fast.

At the Cikini market in Central Jakarta, prices were slightly higher compared to other traditional markets, but residents living in the area said they had expected the price hike.

"It's like this each year. I'm not at all surprised," said Nani Rahardi.

Customers at the traditional market said their family expenditure usually increased by about 20 percent during Ramadhan and another 50 percent during Idul Fitri.