"The legislative campaigns have been carried out since March 16, but their impact on goods and service prices is not too significant," BPS Chief Suryanim saud.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) stated that the current legislative elections campaigns, which have been running since the middle of March, have had no significant impact on the 0.08 percent inflation in March.
"The legislative campaigns have been carried out since March 16, but their impact on goods and service prices is not too significant," BPS Chief Suryanim noted here on Tuesday.
He explained that the simultaneous campaigns across the country had been running smoothly and the supplies of goods and services also run smoothly without constraints.
In the March 2014 period, the BPS recorded 0.08 percent inflation lower than the inflation in February which was 0.26 percent.
He pointed out that inflation in March was due to the increase in the prices of processed food, drink and transportation fares.
"Inflation is more influenced by climate in a number of regions like mountains eruptions and haze, which disturbed peoples activities. Campaigns almost have no influence," the BPS chairman asserted.
During the campaign, drink and food for supporters have been supplied by legislative candidates. "They are generally free of charge; no matter what kind of stuff such as food, drink and even fuels, they have been made available by the candidates," he noted.
According to the BPS, commodities whose price increased in March included rice, chili, instant noodles, air transport fares, garlic, cooking oil, filter clove-flavored cigarettes, milk for infants and cars.
Of the 82 consumer price index (IHK) cities, 45 cities experienced inflation with the highest rate of 1.15 percent in Marauke and the lowest ones in Kediri and Makassar, 0.02 percent respectively.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
