VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inspected the prices of staple items at the Menteng Pulo Market, Jakarta, Thursday, in a bid to keep an eye out for potential inflationary movements in future.

"I want to see the price situation, especially with regard to inflation after Eid," President Jokowi stated at the market here on Thursday.

Jokowi remarked that the prices of several staple items were quite stable.

Staples that experienced an increase were shallots, whose price had reached Rp44 thousand to Rp45 thousand per kilogram, an increase as compared to the earlier price of Rp32 thousand to Rp34 thousand per kilogram.

Jokowi noted that no issues were experienced in connection with other staples, such as rice. The president admitted to feeling surprised that medium-quality rice was being sold at Rp9 thousand per kg.

"Medium-quality rice is sold for Rp9 thousand. Meanwhile, rice priced at Rp9.5 thousand is also available. I was also surprised that there was rice that cost Rp9 thousand. I think that is good," he remarked.

Jokowi said that cooking oil was priced at around Rp14 thousand, while the cost of eggs had decreased to Rp31 thousand per kilogram.

Based on a report from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), inflation after Eid or in May 2023 was recorded at 0.09 percent on a monthly basis (mtm), or decreased as compared to the inflation of 0.33 percent (mtm) in the earlier month.

Thus, the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation was 4.00 percent (yoy), lower than the inflation of 4.33 percent (yoy) in the previous month.

While visiting the market, President Jokowi was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono. (Antaranews)