Prices of food skyrocket in countdown to 'Lebaran'

JAKARTA (JP): Prices of many foodstuffs have continued to rise over the past few days ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.

Data from the city's economic regional bureau (Binekda) released yesterday shows there were significant leaps in the prices of most foodstuffs, ranging from rice and eggs to prime- cut meat.

The price of Saigon rice, for example, was Rp 2,100 (17 U.S. cents) per kilogram yesterday compared to Rp 1,800 per kilo in the first week of this month. The price of prime-cut beef rose by Rp 1,000 from Rp 15,900 per kilo last week to Rp 16,900 per kilo yesterday.

The largest price rise was recorded for eggs, which broke away from the previously stable Rp 3,000 per kilo to Rp 5,000 per kilo.

"In several markets, such as Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta and Pasar Rebo in East Jakarta, some egg vendors said they were short of eggs. We have reported this to the Jakarta branch of the State Logistics Agency (Dolog Jaya) to solve the problem as soon as possible," a Binekda officer said.

"The steep increase was probably due to high demand from people who want to celebrate Idul Fitri."

Deputy Governor for Economic and Financial Affairs Harun Al Rasyid said, however, that there were sufficient supplies of staple foods in the city for the next four months.

Dolog Jaya claims to hold 555,000 tons of rice, which would be enough to support Jakarta until March. It also has 48,000 tons of sugar and 33,000 tons of flour in stock.

Harun said the municipality had pledged to continue routine market operations to help stabilize prices at least until March's meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly.

"So don't worry. Don't believe rumors. The fact is we have a lot of staple food in stock. Let's act normally and be thrifty during this tight monetary situation," he added. (edt)