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.