"The deflation resulted from a decline in the prices of various commodities, particularly of volatile goods," BPS Chief Suhariyanto noted in a press conference here on Tuesday.
The expenditure groups contributing to deflation comprised foods, beverages, and tobacco, at 0.86 percent; and transportation, 0.14 percent, he revealed.
In the group of foods, beverages, and tobacco, purebred chicken meat contributed 0.09 percent; onions, 0.07 percent; tomatoes, 0.02 percent; and purebred chicken eggs, oranges, and bananas, 0.01 percent respectively, to the August 2020 deflation, he remarked.
"The prices of purebred chicken meat fell in 83 cities surveyed for the consumer price index, with the highest decline of 27 percent recorded in Tanjung Pandan, followed by 23 percent in Tanjung Selor," he stated.
In the transportation sector, a 0.02-percent decline in air ticket prices in 25 cities was the biggest contributor to the deflation, he stated.
Suhariyanto expounded that several expenditure groups recorded inflation, with personal care and other services contributing 2.02 percent and education, 0.57 percent, to the inflation.
The high inflation from personal care and other services was chiefly attributed to an increase in the price of gold jewelry, contributing 0.12 percent, he remarked.
"An increase in the prices of gold jewelry was recorded in 90 cities, with the highest spike of 31 percent observed in Pangkal Pinang, followed by 22 percent in Palangkaraya," he remarked.
Meanwhile, the hike in tuition fees at elementary and junior high schools and institutes of higher learning due to the new academic year contributed 0.01 percent each to the inflation.
Suhariyanto noted that 53 of the 90 cities surveyed for consumer price index contributed to the deflation, while 37 cities recorded an inflation in August 2020
The highest deflation of 0.92 percent was recorded in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, while the lowest deflation of 0.01 percent was clocked in Sibolga, Tembilahan, Benkasi, and Banyuwangi.
The highest inflation of 0.08 percent was recorded in Meulaboh, at 0.08 percent, and the lowest inflation of 0.02 percent was noted in Batam, Kediri and Kotamobagu.
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Translator: Satyagraha/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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