BPS: North Sumatra Inflation November 2023 Influenced By Red Chili And Rice

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of North Sumatra stated that inflation in its region in November 2023, both month-to-month and year-on-year, was dominantly influenced by the increase in the price of red chilies and rice.

"In November 2023, North Sumatra's inflation'month to month' was recorded at 0.45 percent and inflation was 'year on year' 3.20 percent," said North Sumatra BPS Head Nurul Hasanudin as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, December 1.

Nurul continued, monthly, the increase in the price of red chili contributed 0.31 percent to inflation, the highest compared to other commodities.

In addition to red chilies, North Sumatra's monthly inflation in November 2023 was due to rising prices of cayenne pepper (0.10 percent), shallots (0.05 percent), sugar, gold and jewelry (0.04 percent), air transportation (0.03 percent) and rice (0.02 percent).

Meanwhile, monthly deflations came due to the decline in the price of broiler meat (-0.08 percent), tomatoes (-0.06 percent), dencis fish (-0.06 percent), tuna fish (-0.03 percent) and gasoline (-0.02 percent).

Then, on an annual basis, it is the turn of rice prices to have the biggest influence on North Sumatra's inflation in November 2023 with a share of 0.70 percent.

In addition to rice, red chili also has an impact on annual inflation (0.43 percent), filter kretek cigarettes (0.22 percent), cayenne pepper (0.18 percent) and universities (0.13 percent).

The annual deflation of November 2023 occurred due to a decline in dencis fish prices (-0.07 percent), pork (-0.05 percent), oranges (-0.04 percent), liquid soap (-0.04 percent) and tuna fish (-0.03 percent).

"Hopefully North Sumatra can control inflation until the end of 2023. Commodities that are usually volatile at the end of the year must get attention," said Nurul.

Meanwhile, nationally, inflation from month to month of North Sumatra in November 2023 was recorded to be higher. In the same period, Indonesia's inflation was 0.38 percent.

North Sumatra's annual inflation is also the same, higher than the national one which was recorded at 2.86 percent.

However, for the calendar year or November 2023 against December 2022, North Sumatra's inflation touched 1.67 percent lower than the national 2.19 percent.

On a monthly basis, of the five cities where the consumer price index (IHK) was measured, the North Sumatra BPS stated that only Sibolga was deflation, namely -0.19 percent.

Meanwhile, others experienced inflation, where the highest was Gunungsitoli (0.69 percent), Medan (0.49 percent), Pematang Siantar 0.37 percent and Padang Sidempuan 0.01 percent.

Year after year, five North Sumatra IHK cities experienced inflation above three percent with the highest experienced by Sibolga, namely 4.19 percent, followed by Gunungsitoli 3.98 percent, Padang Sidempuan 3.39 percent, Pematang Siantar 3.37 percent and Medan 3.14 percent.

"The city of Sibolga needs attention because the inflation rate is already above four percent," said Nurul.

According to him, the inflation of the city of Sibolga is already at the maximum controlled limit of inflation, namely three percent plus minus one percent.