Prices of basic goods to rise within two weeks

JAKARTA (JP): Producers will increase the price of basic commodities by up to 20 percent within two weeks as a consequence of the hike in industrial fuel prices on April 1, said vendors at the Kramatjati prime market, the Cipinang prime rice market and the Jatinegara market on Monday.

"We have two more weeks to buy basic commodities before the producers increase their prices," Hendra, 38, a vendor at the Kramatjati prime market, said.

He said since April 1 there had not been any significant hike of basic commodity prices because the producers had increased prices weeks before the fuel price hike was imposed.

He stated that the price of standard rice has just risen from Rp 1,800 to Rp 2,000 per liter, while sugar has also risen from Rp 3,200 to Rp 3,750 per kilogram.

Cooking oil has risen from Rp 2,800 to Rp 3,400 per kilogram, while wheat flour has also risen from Rp 2,400 to 2,700 per kilogram. Meanwhile, milk has increased from Rp 4,200 to 4,500 per tin and soap has also risen by up to 12 percent. Only salt remains stable.

The price of vegetables and cooking spices has yet to show any significant increase.

"Vegetable prices always fluctuate as they depend on the supply and the stock. If the supply from areas outside Jakarta is increased, prices will automatically drop because vegetables are perishable," Enden Hop, a vegetable vendor at the Kramatjati market told The Jakarta Post.

Aji Chandra, 29, who runs a cooking spices kiosk at the prime market said the price of spices was relatively stable, except for garlic.

"Garlic prices will always follow the U.S. dollar because most garlic is imported," he said.

Sumiati, 49, a chicken vendor at the prime market said chicken prices had just risen from Rp 8,200 to Rp 10,000 per bird. Beef prices have also risen slightly from Rp 27,00 to Rp 28,000 per kilogram.

Separately, Sihite, a basic commodities vendor at the Cipinang prime rice market said prices had risen before the new fuel price was imposed on April 1.

"But I have also been informed by producers that there would be another price hike within two weeks," she said.

She said she had bought in a huge stock of basic commodities, hoping that she would receive double profits after the new hike comes into effect.

She said that sugar was Rp 3,800 per kilogram, while cooking oil was Rp 3,400 per kilogram. Chicken eggs are Rp 6,500 per kilogram while wheat flour is Rp 2,500 per kilogram at the market. Soap and salt prices remained stable at her kiosk.

Another basic commodities vendor, Daud Malik, at the Jatinegara market told the Post that as of this week, he had noted a 3 percent hike in milk prices, 10 percent in cooking oil, 5 percent in ketchup and 12 percent in shampoo.

He said the prices of soap, wheat flour, sugar, instant noodles, tea and coffee remained stable at his shop.

"There have yet to be price increases for some commodities," he said, adding that he had also been informed by producers that there would be another hike within two weeks.

Shoppers at the Jatinegara market said vendors had told them about the planned price hike of basic commodities within two weeks.

"This is what (President) Abdurrahman Wahid's administration has given to us. Prices continue to rise to cover his trips abroad," said a shopper who wished to remain anonymous.

Diana, a shopper at the Cipinang prime market, said she had just bought a chicken at Rp 12,500 per kilogram, compared with Rp 11,000 last week. (01)