March 2026 IHK Controlled at 0.41 Percent, Petrol and Eid Travel Costs Contribute to Inflation

Indonesia’s inflation rate in March 2026 remained controlled despite coinciding with the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr period. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded a monthly inflation rate of 0.41 percent, lower than the 1.65 percent in the same period last year. This achievement is below the pattern of the last five years, where inflation almost always increased during the Ramadan and Eid period. “Based on the historical data of the last five years, inflation always occurred during Ramadan and Eid, except in 2025,” said Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at BPS, Ateng Hartono, during the Official Statistics News Conference on Wednesday (1/4/2026). Although lower, price pressures still occurred, particularly in the food, beverages, and tobacco group. Commodities such as rice, broiler chicken meat, broiler eggs, and cayenne peppers became the main drivers of inflation. In addition, the increased mobility of the public during the Eid exodus also drove price increases in the transportation sector. “The commodities that contributed the most to inflation in this group are petrol and intercity transport fares,” said Ateng. However, not all components experienced increases. Air transport fares actually contributed to deflation in general inflation, thus helping to curb the price rise during the Eid period. Cumulatively, calendar year-to-date inflation up to March 2026 was recorded at 0.94 percent. Meanwhile, annual inflation reached 3.48 percent, higher than last year. BPS explained that the annual inflation increase was partly influenced by the low base effect in 2025, when there was an electricity tariff discount policy that suppressed prices during that period. At the regional level, almost all provinces experienced inflation. Papua Pegunungan recorded the highest inflation at 2.57 percent, while Maluku experienced the deepest deflation at 0.75 percent. With inflation remaining controlled amid increased public consumption during Eid, price pressures in the early part of this year are deemed still in line with the overall economic conditions.