Prices of Chillies to Chicken Rise at Bekasi's Pasar Baru Market, Residents Begin to Cut Back on Shopping

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com — The rise in prices of several staple goods at Pasar Baru, Bekasi Timur District, Bekasi City, has been complained about by traders and housewives alike. Several commodities such as red bird’s eye chillies, shallots, garlic, cut chicken, eggs, and cooking oil have reportedly increased over the past few months. Kompas.com observations at the location showed that vegetable and food stalls were still crowded with buyers from morning until midday. Agus (33), a porridge seller who buys raw materials at the market every day, admitted that the price increases were most felt in cut chicken, chillies, and onions. According to Agus, he usually buys three kilograms of chicken for his daily porridge business needs. However, now the purchase amount has been forced to be reduced due to the chicken price rise. “Usually chicken is Rp 28,000 to Rp 30,000 per kilo, now it can be Rp 35,000 to Rp 40,000 depending on the type of chicken,” said Agus when met at the location on Thursday (14/5/2026). “If the selling price is raised, I’m afraid buyers will run away. So now I just reduce the amount of shopping for ingredients,” he said. Besides chicken, Agus said that the prices of chillies and onions have also risen in recent weeks. Although stocks at the market are still available and not empty, the continuously changing prices make it difficult for small traders to maintain profits. “If the stock is still safe, not empty. It’s just the prices that keep rising. So small traders like me are the ones struggling,” said Agus. Similar complaints were voiced by Lanih (36), a housewife who regularly shops for kitchen needs at Pasar Baru Bekasi.