Puan: Surge in Energy and Essential Goods Prices Burdens the People

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has spotlighted the rise in prices of essential goods and energy due to global geopolitical dynamics stemming from the Middle East war. Puan has called on the government to take steps for control and mitigation, as this situation is burdensome for the people. “Global geopolitical conflicts are now being felt in the national economy. This includes surges in energy prices and several essential goods. This condition is undoubtedly burdensome for the people, especially those from lower economic groups,” Puan stated in her remarks on Wednesday (22/4/2026). From the energy side, the government has recently raised the price of non-subsidised fuel oil (BBM). In addition, the price of non-subsidised LPG has increased by up to 18 per cent following shortages of subsidised LPG stocks in many regions over the past few weeks. Furthermore, the price of cooking oil has been steadily rising in recent times. The surge in cooking oil prices is triggered by the increase in the main raw material price, namely crude palm oil (CPO), which continues to strengthen in the global market. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that cooking oil prices rose in many areas during the third week of April 2026, where 207 regencies/cities or 57.5 per cent of regions experienced increases. The national average price of cooking oil rose from Rp 19,358 to Rp 19,592 per litre, but prices were also recorded as high as Rp 60,000 per litre, specifically in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua. “Changes in the prices of essential goods directly affect households’ daily spending space,” she explained. According to Puan, for many families, cooking oil is not a commodity whose purchase can be delayed, so the price increase feels very burdensome, especially for households with tight expenditures. “Therefore, every price increase directly alters the composition of daily expenditures, and the impact on society is how one essential good starts to take a larger share of their daily shopping,” Puan said.