Prices of staple food increase by 40 percent

Prices of staple food increase by 40 percent

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The price of most staple foods continues to increase by up to 40
percent as the fasting month, expected to start on Wednesday,
approaches.

Vendors at Kramat Jati market, East Jakarta; Pasar Minggu
market, South Jakarta as well as Petojo market, Central Jakarta,
confirmed on Wednesday that the price of basic ingredients such
as flour, eggs and sugar, as well as of vegetables, had started
to rise since the previous week.

"The supply from Bandung, (West Java) Brebes and Magelang
(both in Central Java) has not been able to meet the increased
demand," said Usup, a vegetable agent in Kramat Jati market,
referring to several towns supplying vegetables to the city.

He blamed the decreased vegetable harvest in those areas on
bad weather.

A kilogram of red chili cost Rp 11,000 on Wednesday, while
last week it sold at Rp 8,000. A kilogram of carrots was priced
at Rp 6,000 from the previous Rp 4,000, while the price of a kilo
of stringbeans increased to Rp 5,500 from Rp 3,750.

According to Siregar, a grocery vendor at Pasar Minggu market,
the price of basic food ingredients had increased by 15 percent
to 40 percent.

Sugar, for example, was sold at Rp 3,600 and Rp 4,000 per
kilogram (kg). It was priced at Rp 3,000 last week. The price
increase for palm sugar was among the highest, reaching Rp 5,000
per kg, from Rp 3,500 last week.

The price of eggs has increased by Rp 1,000 per kg to Rp
8,500. The price of flour has increased from Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,000
per kg, while rice remains stable, at Rp 4,000 per kg for that of
the highest quality.

Customers complained, but they said they were not surprised at
rocketing prices, saying that had happened before the fasting
month in previous years.

"Vendors always use any opportunity to make a profit. They
take advantage of our tendency to serve more food during the
fasting month," said Mei, a housewife shopping at Petojo market.

Mei said that her family had saved up for the fasting month,
as well as for Idul Fitri.

A food stall owner complained about the increasing prices.

"The price of everything has gone up prior to the fasting
month, but I cannot put up my prices because my customers would
complain," said Narti, an owner of a food stall on Jl. Gadjah
Mada, Central Jakarta.

According to Narti, she has had to reduce the size of her
portions.

"The reduction is not much; you wouldn't be able to tell," she
said.

Narti reduced the amount of rice and vegetables and served
more thinly sliced tempeh, as well as smaller chicken pieces.

"If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be able to make a profit,"
she said.