BPS Records Jakarta's Poverty Rate Slightly Rises, Caused By The COVID-19 Pandemic And Rising Goods Prices

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JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of DKI Jakarta noted that the poverty rate increased slightly compared to the previous six months. This is based on the results of the National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas) in March 2022

Head of BPS DKI Jakarta Anggoro Dwitjahyono explained that the poverty rate in Jakarta in the March 2022 period was 4.69 percent or around 502 thousand people. This figure is a slight increase of 0.02 percentage point compared to the September 2021 period.

"Compared to the September 2021 period, the poverty rate rose 0.02 percentage points or an increase of 3,750 people. In particular, the very poor population increased by 2,000 people, from 144.3 thousand people in September 2021 to 146.3 thousand people in March 2022," said Anggoro in his statement, quoted on Friday, July 15.

Anggoro said that the condition of poverty as seen from the Poverty Depth Index (P1) and Poverty Severity Index (P2) also worsened slightly.

"The poverty depth index rose from 0.753 in September 2021 to 0.768 in March 2022, which means the poverty gap is getting deeper," he said.

In addition, the poverty severity index increased by 0.06 points from 0.183 to 0.194, which means the expenditure gap among the poor is getting worse.

Anggara explained that one of the causes of the increase in the number of poor people is the decrease in the purchasing power of people who are still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and also the increase in the price of goods/services.

"The increase in new cases of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant during the March 2022 period has an impact on the imposition of restrictions on several economic activities that previously have begun to recover gradually. The economy is starting to improve, but people's purchasing power has not fully recovered," explained Anggoro.