Pak Jokowi Reports, This Is A Commodity That Can Increase Inflation During Ramadan

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) provides a special review related to the potential price fluctuation of basic necessities ahead of Ramadan which will fall in mid-March.

Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, BPS Pudji Ismartini, said this was important to pay attention to so that inflation movements could be controlled while accelerating the target of decreasing that had been set.

"Be aware of the dominant commodities that contributed to inflation in the month of Ramadan, such as household fuel, cooking oil, chicken meat, and several other types of commodities," he said during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 1.

According to Pudji, BPS data recorded an increase in inflation during Ramadan 2019 driven by an increase in a series of community needs, such as red chili prices, broiler meat, and fresh fish.

Then in 2020 the contributors to inflation are shallots, gold jewelry, sugar and household fuel. Then 2021 consists of broiler meat, cooking oil, and oranges.

As well as in Ramadan 2022 inflation contributed the most by cooking oil, gasoline, chicken meat, air transportation fares, and household fuels.

"Thus, based on the trend so far, inflation from the needs of the community needs to be managed," he said.

On that occasion, Pudji also said that inflation based on the consumer price index (IHK) rose to 5.47 percent year on year (yoy) in February 2023. This level shot up from January 2023 which was 5.28 percent.

"The pressure on price components regulated by the government is higher than the previous month. The commodity of filtered kretek cigarettes and white cigarettes is dominant in contributing to this component inflation as a follow-up impact of the increase in cigarette excise," he said.

For information, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) some time ago stated that the government is optimistic that IHK inflation will return to a normal level of 3 percent plus minus 1 percent this year.

This target continues to be pursued through strengthening the work of the Central Inflation Control Team (TPIP) with the Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID) in collaboration with Bank Indonesia (BI).