Inflation Down! As Of March 0.8 Percent, Ramadan This Year Is Getting More Controlled

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Finance)

JAKARTA The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said that the monthly inflation rate (month to month) increased to 0.8 percent in March 2023

Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, BPS Pudji Ismartini, said the level was higher than February 2023 which was 0.16 percent.

"The main contributors to monthly inflation include air transportation, gasoline, rice, cayenne pepper, and filter kretek cigarettes, each of which contributes 0.03 percent, 0.03 percent, 0.02 percent, 0.02 percent, and 0.02 percent," he said during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, April 3.

According to Pudji, the March 2023 period is the starting point for the increase in monthly inflation after previously continuing to slope. This is in line with the seasonal trend ahead of Eid Al-Fitr. Meanwhile, the inflation rate in January 2023 is 0.34 percent, quite high because it is still influenced by the end of the 2022 holiday season.

Furthermore, Pudji revealed several commodities that need attention from the government during Ramadan, including air transportation rates, beef, broiler meat, shallots, and broiler eggs.

However, this year's inflation level is expected to be more controlled than the previous years.

The year on year (yoy) inflation is 4.97 percent or sloping from February 2023 which was recorded at 5.47 percent.

"Inflation in the month of Ramadan this year is relatively lower than the previous year (except 2020 and 2021)," he said.