Locals complain price hikes

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Shortages in rice and sugar have caused price hikes in the staple foodstuffs in markets across Palembang, residents say.

For the past three days, rice was selling for Rp 68,000 (US$7.5) a 25-kilogram sack in the city's Cinde traditional market. Its normal price was only Rp 58,000 a sack.

Sugar, normally sold for Rp 4,400 a kilogram, had increased to Rp 5,000, they said. --JP