Rice and fresh fish also contributed significantly to the month`s inflation..."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias inflation rate in February 2014 was recorded at 0.26 percent due to the high prices of food and beverages.
"The biggest contributors to the months inflation rate were the processed food group, beverages, cigarettes, and tobacco," Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Deputy Chairman for Statistics Adi Lumaksono stated here on Monday.
As a result, he explained that the rate of inflation in the January-February calendar year reached 1.33 percent, while the year-on-year inflation reached 7.75 percent.
Adi remarked that the rate of inflation of core components in February was recorded at 0.37 percent, while the year-on-year inflation was recorded at 4.67 percent.
Based on the spending groups, processed food group, beverages, cigarettes, and tobacco contributed 0.08 percent to the months inflation rate, followed by food materials contributing 0.04 percent.
"Rice and fresh fish also contributed significantly to the months inflation, respectively recorded at 0.05 percent, as several rice-producing centers reported harvest failure and fish supply dropped due to weather problems," Adi emphasized.
The transportation group, communication, and financial services meanwhile contributed 0.03 percent and housing, water, electricity, gas and fuels contributed 0.04 percent.
The clothing groups contribution to the inflation reached 0.04 percent, while the health group contributed 0.01 percent, and education, recreation, and sports contributed 0.02 percent.
Out of the 82 Consumer Price Index cities, 55 reported a high inflation rate with Pontianak in West Kalimantan recording the highest at 2.73 percent, while Bandar Lampung in Sumatra and Probolinggo in East Java reporting the lowest at 0.02 percent.
"Inflation in Pontianak was the highest in February due to the Cap Go Meh (end of Chinese New Year celebrations) festivals, which led to a hike in air fares due to the rising demands," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, 27 cities recorded a deflation with the highest reported in Sibolga, North Sumatra, at 2.43 percent, Adi stated.
(Reporting by Satyagraha/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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