"All the 66 cities surveyed for consumer price index (CPI) recorded inflation," BPS Chief Suryamin said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s inflation rate rose by more than expected in July to 3.29 percent, driven by a rise in food prices and transport fares, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

"All the 66 cities surveyed for consumer price index (CPI) recorded inflation," BPS Chief Suryamin said here on Thursday.

The high inflation was caused by an increase in food prices and transport fares as a result of the government`s policy to hike the prices of subsidized fuel oils in June, he said.

"The indirect impact of fuel price hike is still felt particularly on transport fares, production cost and food commodity prices," he said.

He said components of general inflation contributed 3.29 percent and core inflation 0.99 percent, while administered prices contributed 7.9 percent and volatile prices 6.07 percent to the inflation.

"The July 2013 inflation rate is relatively high. The last time the country recorded a high inflation rate in July was 2008 when we experienced a crisis," he said.

According to the BPS, transportation, communication and financial services contributed 1.5 percent to the inflation, followed by foodstuffs 1.36 percent, foods, beverages, cigarettes and tobacco 0.28 percent, housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel 0.1 percent.

Healthcare contributed 0.02 percent, and education, recreation and sports 0.04 percent to the inflation, while the prices of garments declined by 0.01 percent.

The July inflation brought the calendar inflation to 6.75 percent and year-on-year inflation to 8.61 percent, while the core component inflation was 0.99 percent and the year-on-year core inflation in July was 4.44 percent.

Suryamin said the highest inflation rate of 6.04 percent was recorded in Ternate, North Maluku, and the lowest inflation rate of 1.36 percent was seen in Singkawang, West Kalimantan. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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