Surge in basic goods prices in Bekasi: Traders' turnover slumps as buyers cut spending

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com - A number of staple goods prices at Pasar Baru Bekasi, in East Bekasi District, Bekasi City, have surged. Traders and buyers at the market are feeling the impact.

Amid rising prices, the traditional market in Bekasi City is increasingly quiet, with traders’ turnover falling sharply.

Several traders say the market condition is even tougher now than during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Shoppers are not there. The more this goes on, the market becomes quiet, goods are expensive. Turnover has fallen by around 40 percent,’ Afrida told Kompas.com at her stall on Friday (22/5/2026).

‘Chilli peppers are expensive now. Red onions too. Nothing cheap at the moment,’ said Afrida.

She said the market is getting quieter because people now prefer to shop online rather than come directly to the traditional market.

‘The market has no people; even early in the morning it’s already quiet. It loses to online shopping. Now people go to the market only as needed,’ she added.

In addition to competition from online shopping, Afrida also highlighted many traders selling outside the market area, causing buyers to be reluctant to enter the main market.

She said regular customers who previously shopped up to Rp 300,000 now only spend around Rp 100,000.

‘Now you have to be patient. If you don’t have customers, many traders have already closed,’ said Afrida.

She said the price of broiler chicken is now around Rp 33,000 to Rp 38,000 per kilogram, up about 35 percent from previously Rp 28,000 per kilogram.

‘Day in the past you could sell 50 to 60 birds a day. Now bringing 20 birds still often results in leftovers,’ Imas said.

‘Whether the market is quiet or busy, it’s not a problem; if prices go up, they go up,’ she said.

Imas said her turnover has fallen by more than half. If previously she could earn a turnover of up to Rp 5 million per day, now only around Rp 2 million.

Not only staple foods, price increases have also occurred for other trading needs, including cooking oil and plastic bags.

Sulastri (37), a convenience goods trader at Pasar Baru Bekasi, said plastic bag prices have risen significantly in recent times.