"The inflation rate was fueled by a price hike in clothing and apparels such as gold ornaments," BPS Deputy Chief for Statistics Distribution and Services Djamal said here Wednesday.
The prices of daily necessaries declined contributing -0.07 percent to deflation.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel contributed 0.06 percent, clothing 0.05 percent, processed food, beverage, cigarette and tobacco 0.04 percent, transportation, communication and good services 0.02 percent, and health also 0.02 percent to last month`s inflation, he said.
"Health contributed to the inflation because there has been an increase in hospital registration and room tariffs," he said.
Education and recreation have not affected the inflation nor deflation because the holiday season and school registration period have not taken place yet.
"But, it`s predicted that in the next one or two months, these groups will contribute significantly to the inflation," he said.
Overall, the inflation rate in May was 0.12 percent, the core inflation 0.17 percent, volatile food prices -0.09 percent and the government-controlled prices 0.04 percent.
As such, the calendar year inflation rate during January-May was 0.51 percent, and the year-on-year (yoy) inflation rate was 5.98 percent.
Besides, the May core inflation rate was 0.27 percent and the yoy core inflation 4.64 percent.
Some 51 of 66 cities surveyed by the BPS contributed to the inflation and 15 saw deflation last month, he said.
Ambon recorded the highest inflation of 1.66 percent and Kendari 1.08 percent, he said.
The lowest inflation rate of 0.02 percent was recorded in Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara -NTB), Kediri (East Java) and Denpasar (Bali).
He said the highest deflation of -1.14 percent was recorded in Tarakan (East Kalimantan) and -1.13 percent in Lhokseumawe (Aceh Province). (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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