Jatinegara School Uniform Sellers Wary Ahead of the New Academic Year

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The rise in the prices of goods and the weakening rupiah are making traders at Pasar Jatinegara anxious. Several school uniform and sock sellers are worried that higher prices and a weaker rupiah will affect their sales as the new academic year approaches in June.

One of them is Yogi, a sock seller who is worried as buyers have declined since prices rose.

“Since the price of subsidised fuel rose, plastic prices have also risen, and the rupiah has weakened, we have become more worried because the market atmosphere has grown quieter,” Yogi told CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

He is worried that the effect of higher prices could mean that the back-to-school period or class transitions for schoolchildren cannot be exploited by traders.

“Normally we, along with the uniform traders, look forward to the back-to-school period, which usually comes in June–July and is a sales peak. But we are somewhat worried the impact could extend that far, and that this year’s sales could be lower than last year, around June–July,” he said.

Similarly, Farhan, another school uniform trader, is sceptical about sales in June–July as prices rise.

“If it’s quiet now, perhaps it’s not the right time yet. Usually in June–July it’s busy, but we are rather sceptical,” Farhan said.

Is worried that this year’s uniform sales will be lower than last year’s, due to rising prices of goods.

“But if the current conditions continue, I am worried that in June or July, when parents are busy shopping for new uniforms for their children, sales could be lower than last year. Last year they even rose by about 40%, so I fear this year could actually fall. Hopefully that won’t happen,” he added.