"Hence, when it is not harvest season, food stocks are still enough and prices can be under control," Yuwono expounded at a press conference at Statistics Indonesia's Building 5.
Stakeholders at the central and regional levels need to take into account factors such as climate and weather change, both of which can influence domestic commodity prices, he said.
The month-to-month (mtm) inflation of 0.34 percent recorded in January 2023 was predominantly caused by the prices of food commodities, including rice, which contributed 0.07 percent to inflation, red chili (0.04 percent), fish (0.04 percent), and small chilli pepper (0.03 percent).
Volatile price components hit the 5.71-percent inflation mark, higher than 5.61 percent in December 2022, and contributed 0.97 percent to the January 2023 inflation rate.
He also called for more considerate and thoughtful policy-making when it comes to price adjustments to ensure that the impacts on inflation can be managed properly.
According to Yuwono, inflation in 2022 was largely influenced by an increase in prices, as regulated by the government, apart from global factors.
The 5.28-percent yoy inflation in January 2023 was predominantly caused by the transportation sector, which recorded 13.91 percent yoy inflation and contributed as much as 1.67 percent to overall inflation.
The price component, which was stipulated by the government, recorded an inflation of 12.28 percent yoy, and it also recorded the highest inflation of 2.17 percent in January 2023.
In 2022, the government set some policies to adjust the price of fuel.
Yuwono also asked the government to pay attention to the rupiah exchange rate, which indirectly influences domestic stock management and food distribution.
“The exchange rate must be paid attention to because we still import some food stocks," he added.
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Translator: M Heriyanto, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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