Prices of basic goods to rise within two weeks

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)