Phenomenon Emerges as Customers at Pasar Senen Disappear One by One, Traders Cry Out

Several traders at Pasar Senen in Central Jakarta have expressed concern over a deteriorating situation, where the public’s purchasing power is visibly waning. Based on observations by CNBC Indonesia on Monday (11/5/2026), the basement floor housing shops selling groceries and various dry cakes still appeared fairly busy with people milling about. However, several traders claimed the opposite, stating that conditions have become increasingly quiet.

Not only cooking oil traders are experiencing a slowdown, but also vendors of dry cakes, wet cakes, fruits, and meats are being abandoned by customers. This is due to price hikes in staple goods. Moreover, the effect of rising plastic prices has made goods even more expensive. Traders say the public is starting to reduce consumption.

One of them, Marni, a fruit trader at Pasar Senen, specifically among the vegetable sellers, said customers have begun to dwindle as the prices of staple needs and plastic become more expensive. “That’s how it is, it’s indeed quiet right now, but not because it’s already afternoon; mornings, which should be busy, are now quiet,” said Marni when met by CNBC Indonesia on Monday (11/5/2026).

Even her fruit sales turnover has now dropped by around 30% since plastic and staple goods prices began to rise. “Turnover has dropped maybe 30%, it seems people are starting to reduce fruit consumption,” Marni continued.

Although turnover has fallen, she is still continuing to trade, because it is for daily needs, especially for her children’s schooling. “If you say resigned, no, but what can you do about protesting, so just keep trading because if I don’t, how will my children manage,” she said.

Not only fruit traders, but wet cake and market snack trader Didit also admitted conditions are becoming quiet, even though several times many customers were seen arriving. “It’s quiet right now, usually in the mornings people buy to resell or perhaps for breakfast, but customers have indeed decreased a bit,” said Didit.

He revealed a turnover decline of up to 10% since goods prices began to rise. “It seems people are starting to reduce buying cakes here, turnover has already dropped 10%,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Salma, a trader of dry cakes and various souvenirs, said her shop is also becoming quiet. Even on weekends, which are usually quite busy, it is now starting to quieten. “I don’t know why, but it’s getting quieter, and usually Saturdays and Sundays are busy, but the last few days it’s been quiet,” said Salma.

Salma added that sales of those snacks have dropped by up to 15%. “I don’t know exactly how much, but it’s dropped 15%, it’s not like Eid when it surges, but usually it’s not like this,” she said.

Meanwhile, Jaya, a beef trader at Pasar Senen, now only relies on his regulars from restaurants or eateries around Pasar Senen, where other customers have greatly reduced. “If you say it’s quiet, yes it is, now I only rely on regulars, as to when it started getting quiet, well after Eid,” said Jaya.

In his shop, the price of beef is now Rp150,000 per kg, making buyers think twice about purchasing beef. “Now Rp150,000 per kg, it did drop to Rp140,000 per kg, but it rose again, it’s been about 3 weeks,” Jaya explained.