Pekanbaru, (antarariau.com) - National inflation rate on March 2013 rose 0,63 percent, meanwhile in Pekanbaru City reached 0,04 percent as an impact of the onion's scarcity according to Central Statistical Agency (BPS).
Chief BPS of Riau Province Mawardi Arsyad said here on Monday, the two comodities, red and white onions, had contributed in inflation rate after the scarcity started on early March. The crop failure in some of agricultural center, that some others believed was the backlash of global warming, resulting the dearth of those spices.
The condition was getting worse after the ministry of commerce set policy to suspend permit of imported onions to enter Indonesian market.
Especially in Pekanbaru, Mawardi said the price of red and white onion have had peaked untill 53 percent and 10 percent on last March.
Even so, the onion had not effected much to inflation rate in Riau, especially at Pekanbaru when it compared with other cities. Inflation in Pekanbaru was noted as the lowest one among the 66 cities which calculated using consumer price index (IHK).
In fact, BPS emphasized the harbour city of Dumai on March was actually
had made deflation rate 0,01 percent.
"Probably, both Pekanbaru and Dumai, had better supply from onion imports which sneaked into region using rat (illegal) harbours," he said.
*translator: Rian Anggoro
Onion's Crisis Set Inflation Rate 0,63 Percent
