Inflation in Semarang City Remains Stable During Eid

Seasonal pressures from the surge in demand during Eid al-Fitr 2026 did not cause inflation in Semarang City to spike sharply. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded March 2026 inflation at 0.37 per cent, still under control despite increased consumption activity. Cumulatively, inflation from January to March 2026 was 0.80 per cent, while the annual inflation rate stood at 3.57 per cent. This figure indicates a decrease compared to the previous month, which reached 4.65 per cent, signalling that price stability remains maintained. This decline suggests that price pressures are beginning to ease, although the public still feels increases in the prices of several staple needs during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. The Head of BPS Semarang City, Rudi Cahyono, explained that the high inflation in the February 2026 period was more influenced by the low base effect due to the government’s 50 per cent electricity tariff discount policy implemented in February 2025. “In the previous month, year-on-year inflation in Semarang City was recorded at 4.65 per cent. This was mainly influenced by the low base effect due to the electricity tariff discount at the beginning of 2025,” he said on Saturday, 4 April 2026. Rudi explained that the impact of that policy still lingers in the inflation dynamics up to March 2026, both monthly and annually. This means, he said, that fundamentally, real price pressures in society are not as high as reflected in the previous annual figures. From the food perspective, conditions on the ground are relatively more encouraging. The Head of the Economy and Natural Resources Section of the Semarang City Regional Secretariat, M. Luthfi Eko Nugroho, stated that the availability of goods remains guaranteed, and prices are still within reach of the public. “Alhamdulillah, in the food sector, the availability of goods can be assured, and the prices are still affordable for the public. There are increases, but not to levels that are unaffordable,” he said. He emphasised that monitoring and interventions for inflation-contributing commodities, especially food items, continue to be intensified. Coordination across regional device organisations (OPD) has also been strengthened to maintain price stability while protecting residents’ purchasing power. With this achievement, Semarang City’s inflation is deemed still within a safe corridor. This condition also serves as a reflection that the price control strategies implemented by the local government, including market operations and cooperation with Bulog, have proven quite effective in facing seasonal shocks like Eid al-Fitr. This stability is hoped to continue post-Eid al-Fitr, along with the normalisation of demand and smoother distribution.