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Food prices drive inflation as Indonesia heads into Idul Fitri
Consumer prices last month rose less than they usually do ahead of Idul Fitri, as mobility restrictions are keeping demand subdued.
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(JP/P.J.Leo)
Indonesia’s inflation rate picked up in April amid growing demand for staple foods during Ramadan and nearing Idul Fitri, which is slated to start on May 13, although the increase remains muted compared to prepandemic levels due to the ongoing mobility restrictions.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported Monday that the consumer price index rose 0.13 percent in the month of April and 1.42 percent on an annual basis, both of which were lower than the inflation rates seen in April last year, when mobility restrictions were much tighter.
The food, beverage and tobacco expenditure group contributed 0.05 percentage points to the monthly rise in consumer prices, driven by chicken meat, cooking oil, oranges, grapes, papaya, filtered clove cigarettes, fresh fish and apples.
“The chicken meat price rose due to the price increase in feed, namely corn,” Setianto, the deputy of services and distribution statistics at BPS, said in a virtual press conference on Monday. “Demand during Ramadan and leading up to Idul Fitri also contributed to the price increase in chicken meat.”
Consumer prices usually pick up strongly during Ramadan and Idul Fitri, but ongoing micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro) and a mudik (exodus) travel ban have muted the seasonal surge in demand for key commodities.
Read also: ‘Mudik’ banned – again
