Red chili and bird's eye chili contributed 0.13 percent and 0.05 percent respectively to the inflation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's inflation rate increased 0.39 percent in January, driven by a spike in the prices of foodstuffs, especially red chili and bird's eye chili, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) stated.

"Red chili and bird's eye chili contributed 0.13 percent and 0.05 percent respectively to the inflation," BPS Chief Suhariyanto noted during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

The prices of fresh fish and cooking oil also rose in January, contributing 0.04 percent each to the inflation rate, he stated.

Rice contributed 0.03 percent to the inflation, while cloves and cigarettes added 0.02 and 0.01 percent respectively to the inflation.

The hike in the prices of these foodstuffs caused the group of foods, beverages, and tobacco to record an inflation of 1.62 percent in January.

The other group of expenditures that also contributed to the January 2020 inflation were personal care and other services, at 0.46 percent; healthcare, 0.42 percent; and restaurant foods and beverages, 0.19 percent.

However, the group of expenditures, including transportation and education, recorded a deflation. Transportation and education contributed 0.89 percent and 0.14 percent respectively to the January deflation.

"The decline in flight tickets in January was recorded in 58 cities, with the largest drop recorded in Padang Sidempuan, Palangkaraya, and Kupang," he stated.

Fuel oil, purebred chicken, and eggs were the other commodities that also witnessed a deflation in January.

The BPS noted that 79 out of the 90 cities surveyed for consumer price index recorded an inflation, while only 11 cities contributed to the deflation.

The highest inflation of 1.44 percent was recorded in Meulaboh while the lowest inflation of 0.03 percent was cited in Gorontalo. However, Baubau recorded an inflation of 1.39 percent and 0.01 percent in Kudus.

The January 2020 inflation brought the calendar inflation to 0.39 percent and year-on-year inflation to 0.39 percent. Related news: 2019's CPI inflation stays at target corridor: BI
Related news: Indonesia hits lowest inflation ever recorded in past two decades



Translator: Satyagraha/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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