Inflation remained below 5 percent for the second month in a row, while core inflation eased to the lowest rate in 10 months.
nflation remained below 5 percent for the second month in a row, with core inflation easing to the lowest rate in 10 months, suggesting government efforts to bolster food supplies and distribution helped contain consumer prices during Ramadan this year.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed on Tuesday headline inflation had dropped to 4.33 percent in April, further cooling down the consumer price index (CPI) growth from the 4.97 percent year-on-year increase registered in March.
Before that, the rate had been above 5 percent ever since September, when an increase in government-controlled fuel prices drove CPI growth to 5.95 percent, the highest level since October 2015.
“Historically, big religious holidays strongly affect [demand for goods and services] as well as price changes at the consumer level,” said BPS head Margo Yuwono in a press conference on Tuesday.
The monthly increase in consumer prices accelerated to 0.33 percent in April from March’s 0.18, which was attributed mainly to a rise in demand during the fasting month.
However, that seasonal effect leading up to the Lebaran holiday was smaller this year than last year.
Margo explained this was due to the main harvest season taking place in March and April, which helped secure additional supply of agricultural produce at the right time to coincide with the Ramadan increase in demand.
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