Yogyakarta 'gold street' deserted

Yogyakarta 'gold street' deserted

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The arrival of Idul Fitri usually means brisk business on
Yogyakarta's "gold street", as Jl. Ketandan is popularly known.
There, people would crowd around the 30 jewelry stores in the
area to polish their gold jewelry, making it shine as if it was
brand new.

This year around, with Idul Fitri only about six days away,
the stores are deserted, with only one or two customers around.

Sutiyanto, an employee at Bintang Tiga gold jewelry store,
admitted on Wednesday that the store only sold an average of five
to 10 pieces of gold jewelry weighing about three to five grams
each.

"Last year, we sold an average of 40 to 50 pieces a day, even
ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan," Sutiyanto said without
mentioning the store's profits.

He blamed the drop this year on people's low purchasing power
following the government's move to raise fuel prices on Oct. 1
which immediately pushed up prices of basic necessities.

Sutiyanto said that slow business was experienced by all
jewelry stores in the street although he claimed that the price
of gold had decreased. A week before Ramadhan, he said, 22 carat
gold was priced at Rp 140,000 per gram but now it was Rp 125,000
per gram.

Sutiyah, 62, has been cleaning and polishing gold jewelry
since 1935 and until last year, she would polish at least 25
pieces of jewelry a day.

"Previously, I had to work late with my two children to finish
the work, but this year, business is really slow. I only get one
or two customers a day. Maybe this year it's really difficult for
everyone, even to buy rice," said Sutiyah in her home.

The woman said the gold jewelry was usually polished to make
it shine for the Idul Fitri celebration.

"Every Idul Fitri, gold jewelry is worn to showcase one's
success. That's why many people will bring it to me to make their
old jewelry look new," said the mother of four who charged Rp
3,000 for each piece.

While Sutiyah struggles to survive, dozens of other people
with a similar profession have opted to close down.

"It's been a week and I haven't had any customers so I decided
to close," said Mardiana, 54, who has been in the business for
eight years.