Ahead Of Nataru And The 2024 General Election, Rice Prices At Ciracas Market Start To Rise

Illustration of rice/ Photo: IST

Food commodity prices began to spread ahead of the 2023 Christmas and New Year celebrations (Nataru) and the 2024 General Election. The price of the need for thighlets such as eggs and rice has begun to increase in Ciracas Market, East Jakarta, since Friday, December 1.

The price of rice, which previously cost Rp. 13,500.00, experienced an increase of Rp. 500.00 per liter to Rp. 14,000.00. Meanwhile, the price of eggs increased by Rp. 1,000.00 per kilogram to Rp. 28,000.00.

"Now the price of medium quality rice is Rp. 13 thousand, if the premium is Rp. 14 thousand per kilo," Jamaludin, a rice trader, told reporters, Friday, December 1.

The impact of the increase in rice prices also affects the turnover of rice traders.

"Omzet is difficult to determine because (prices) go up and down. If the price of rice is like this, customers are looking for cheap ones. So they can't get (amorphet)," he said.

In addition to having an impact on sales turnover, the increase in rice commodity prices also affects the lack of merchant stalls.

"The sales are already quiet, the capital continues to increase. Customers are looking for the cheapest, even though the ones who have been looking for it for a long time are also the cheapest," he said.

Jamaludin hopes that the government will immediately stabilize the prices of basic commodities so that they do not spike again ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations and the 2024 General Election.