Prices of basic commodities up at traditional markets

JAKARTA (JP): Prices for basic commodities sold at traditional markets in the capital have increased, following the fuel price hike which came into effect on Saturday.

Although the prices are not consistent at every market, the increase has ranged between 10 percent and 25 percent. But the cost of some items, such as chili, has risen up to 60 percent.

At Palmerah traditional market in Central Jakarta, for example, prices for almost all of the commodities has increased.

"But the craziest one has been cabe rawit (small chili). Usually, the highest price is Rp 4,000 (about U.S. 36 cents) per kilogram. Now it's up to Rp 9,000 per kilogram," Ijah, a vendor in Palmerah told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Ijah said she obtained produce from the main market at Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

"For vegetables, the prices are still the same. But for others, like garlic, the prices have gone up," she said, adding that there were less shoppers due to the increase.

Garlic now costs Rp 9,000 per kilogram, up from about Rp 6,000. The price of rice, however, has increased an average of Rp 200 per kilogram.

At Kebayoran Lama market, South Jakarta, the highest increase was also the price of chili.

Besides small chili, the price of red chili has increased from about Rp 7,500 to Rp 12,000 per kilogram.

Meanwhile at Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta, several vendors said that most of the prices had yet to increase.

"Onions still range between Rp 6,000 and Rp 8,000 (per kilogram), but that's not because of the fuel price hike. It's always up and down like that, depending on the supply," said a vendor named Surti.

The price of eggs, however, has increased from Rp 6,500 to Rp 7,500.

The increase, following the fuel price hike, is averaging about 30 percent.

With the fuel hike, the price of premium gasoline rose to Rp 1,450 per liter from Rp 1,150; diesel fuel from Rp 600 to Rp 900 and kerosene rose to Rp 400 from Rp 350 per liter.

The hike has caused the cost of transportation to increase and has therefore affected the prices of commodities.

"Like onions for example, which come from Brebes, Central Java. The price is Rp 6,000, but then the cost of transportation is set at say, Rp 1,000. So we sell it at Rp 8,000. Makes sense, doesn't it? If the cost of transportation increases, so does the product's price," Surti said.

The increase, nevertheless, is causing problems for most people, not only from the low income bracket, but those from the middle class as well.

"The price of eggs decreased several times to Rp 6,000. But now, it's Rp 7,500. Crazy," Titi, a housewife, told the Post at Tanah Abang.

Another customer, Ratmo, said that the increase had given him a major headache.

"I have a small cafe at home, but even though prices have increased, I can't raise mine because then nobody will eat at my place," said Ratmo, who is also a taxi driver.

Ratmo said he would instead reduce the portion of meals.(hdn)