Traditional markets quiet, commodity prices up

JAKARTA (JP): Traditional markets were still quiet as the Idul Fitri holiday ended yesterday, while commodity prices were higher than usual.

Few kiosks were open in Blok M market, while meat, fish, and chicken sellers closed their businesses at 10:00 a.m.

Only jewelry and gold shops, and kiosks selling vegetables, fruit, medicines, and cakes stayed open until the afternoon.

Business at the Mayestik and Santa markets, in South Jakarta, was slow with only a few shops, selling clothes and kitchen utensils, open.

The Kebayoran Lama market was a little more lively, but traders were complaining there were fewer buyers because people had stocked up on food before the Idul Fitri holiday started.

Traders said the increase in commodity prices was understandable as it was not easy to get food these days.

At Mayestik market, long red chilies cost Rp 11,500 per kilogram, the normal price is Rp 5,000. A few days before Idul Fitri they were Rp 10,000 per kilogram.

Tomatoes, carrots, shallots, meat, chicken, stringbeans, and mustard greens were also more expensive than they had been a few days before Idul Fitri. The price discrepancy was between Rp 150 and Rp 2,000.

Nayem, a food stall owner who lives near Kebayoran Lama market, said, "Vegetables are expensive, but I must buy them or I will have to close my stall and stop making money."

Mrs. Munir of Cipete, South Jakarta, said she had to go to the market because the vegetables hawkers who operated in her neighborhood had not returned from their hometowns.

The high prices and lack of buyers have apparently damaged business.

Traders said they had opened just because business was good on the same day last year.

Heri Chotib, a vegetable seller in Blok M since 1974 said; "My turnover is decreasing compared to last year's." He said he earned only Rp 18,000 yesterday, far below his expectation. He did not say how much he had expected.

Aja Miharja, a vegetable seller at Blok M said he opened his business yesterday because he had abundant stock. "I'd better sell them rather than let them decay."

Yanto, who sells salt fish in Blok M, also said his turnover was no good. He said he made Rp 300,000 yesterday.

"I made that much because the price of salt fish is high. I sell it for Rp 40,000 per kilogram. Usually I get Rp 2 million a day," Yanto said. (13)