Head of Statistics Indonesia office in Malang, East Java, reported inflation rate during August in the city at 111,72, rising 0,20 per cent from the previous month rate. On annual basis, inflation rate of the city rose 0,45 per cent.
Some of the commodities with the highest inflation rate were food (0,279 per cent), packed food, beverage, cigarettes, tobacco (0,001 per cent), and housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel (0,089). The impact of rising gas price was not significant to the inflation rate as the new level of price was only imposed less than one week.
The office predicted the monthly inflation rate could reach one per cent in September as residents celebrate Idul Fitri.
The office of Industry, Trade and Cooperative in the city said it cannot intervene the market as the rise had not exceeded 25 per cent. “We will conduct market operation once the prices moved beyond normal level,” said Penny Indrayati, head of the trade office.
Her office also planned to closely watch 23 food staple storage in the city to prevent distributor from pilling up stock to distort food price.
Bibin Bintaryadi