Tomatoes Became the Biggest Contributor to Inflation in January 2024

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that Indonesia's inflation was 2.57% year-on-year (yoy) and 0.04% month-to-month (mtm) in January 2024.

The acting head of BPS, Amalia A. Widyasanti, explained that the monthly inflation rate at the beginning of 2024 was lower than in December 2023, which was 0.41%.

Amalia also explained that several commodities contributed to the January 2024 inflation.

"Tomatoes were the main contributor to inflation, with a contribution of 0.09%," said Amalia in an online press conference on Thursday (1/2/2024).

Next was shallots, the second largest contributor to inflation with a contribution of 0.04%, followed by rice with a contribution of 0.03%.

Then fresh fish, broiler chicken, garlic, and kretek machine-made cigarettes (SKM) each contributed 0.02% to inflation in January 2024.

Commodities contributing 0.01% to inflation included potatoes, white machine-made cigarettes (SPM), jengkol (a type of bean), and bananas.

"Meanwhile, commodities that contributed to deflation were chili peppers with a contribution of 0.11%, and red chilies and airfare with contributions of 0.09% each," said Amalia.

BPS also noted that 25 out of 38 provinces in Indonesia experienced inflation, while the remaining 15 provinces experienced deflation.

The highest national inflation occurred in Papua Pegunungan Province, at 1.01% (mtm). Meanwhile, the deepest deflation occurred in Gorontalo Province at 0.91%.