"Ordinarily, the best way is to conduct price checks at the market. I observed that the time I went to Bogor (the market), the price of chili was still above Rp30 thousand, but I had already bought for Rp17 thousand," the president stated at the Sidoharjo Market on Monday.
The president went shopping at the market after inaugurating the Campus mosque "Ki Bagus Hadikusumo" and changes in the form of the Muhammadiyah College and laying the first stone of the building of the Lamongan University Muhammadiyah tower at the Lamongan STIKES campus.
While going shopping, the president was accompanied by First Lady Iriana and East Java Governor Soekarwo.
The president appeared to be purchasing chili, peanuts, carrots, and sapodilla and inquired about the price of rice.
"Actually, do not be too high but do not be too low, since if you are low, the farmers are sorry, and if you are too high, you are sorry," the president noted.
He stated that the government`s duty was to maintain stable prices of basic commodities.
"This is the balance that we have to guard, so that `supply` and `demand` are in a good, stable position and the prices do not increase too much but also fall," the president added.
He admitted to a slight increase in the price of goods, but there was also a price drop.
"The price of chili went from above Rp30 thousand to Rp17 thousand. The price of rice rose slightly, but this is stable. The governor (Seokerwo) said that the inflation rate of 1.78 was very stable," the president stated.
He also requested that the people should visit the market to check for themselves the actual rates when parties state that the prices had gone up.
"Yes, it is checked at the market itself. How can the (inflation) of 1.78 in East Java be an increase? Price stability has been maintained in East Java, and nationally, inflation is at 3.5 (percent), meaning the controlled price is not taken into account when the price of one item fits. The direct rise (all) is called up, though the usual price increase is normal," the president explained.
First Lady Iriana purchased 20 salted eggs for Rp80 thousand and a papaya.
The first lady did not haggle over the price of the item and immediately handed over Rp100 thousand to the merchant without asking for a change.
Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia
Editing by Eliswan, Suharto
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
