Here's some lo-cal flavor from the end link:
ÿÿÿ JAKARTA (AFX-ASIA) - Food prices in three Jakarta traditional markets in January rose an average of 44.38 pct month-on-month compared to the official CPI figure of 13.91 pct and national figure of 10.15 pct for the same month, a survey by AFX-ASIA shows.
ÿÿÿ The survey revealed only modest price rises in 1997, with the worst of the increases beginning in early January -- when the rupiah broke the psychological 10,000 mark, sparking a wave of panic buying and hoarding.
ÿÿÿ The survey was conducted at the end of last month before the Islamic holiday of Idul Fitri.
ÿÿÿ It covered three traditional markets, Boplo and Bendungan Hilir, both in Central Jakarta, and Mester, in Jatinegara, east Jakarta.
ÿÿÿ In each market, vendors were asked for the end-December and end-January prices per kilogram of various grades of rice, sugar, cooking oil, flour, coffee, milk, tea, vegetables, onions, eggs, sauce, margarine, meat, chicken, goat, and fish.
ÿÿÿ Of the most important staples, cooking oil posted the biggest rise, increasing an average 146.58 pct, while rice prices rose an average 34.33 pct, flour 33.33 pct, chilis 32.14 pct, eggs 88.24 pct, chicken 34.55 pct and beef 26.64 pct.
ÿÿÿ Fish prices were the only exception remaining virtually unchanged because of the commodity's high perishability, vendors said.ÿ
ÿÿÿ However, within each category, there were sharp variations according to quality, and average prices of some products such as rice would have been higher were it not for market operations by the government's National Logistics Board (Bulog).
ÿÿÿ There were also sharp differences in price increases according to
individual markets -- possibly an indication of localised distribution bottlenecks, a serious problem throughout Indonesia, vendors said.
ÿÿÿ Rice prices varied markedly. The more popular Setra rice was 2,600 rupiah per kilogram at Boplo, up from 2,400 at the end of 1997, while in Bendungan Hilir, it increased to 2,900 from 1,600.ÿ
ÿÿÿ Bulog rice, meanwhile, varied from 1,000 to 1,800 per kilogram depending on the grade, with no price increases recorded during the period.
ÿÿÿ The next most important staple, cooking oil, recorded the highest price rises, with vendors selling lower quality "yellow" cooking oil for 4,000-4,500 per kilogram, up from 1,800, and higher quality "white" cooking oil for 5,000, up from 1,850.
ÿÿÿ Market prices for raw sugar were also significantly higher at 2,000-2,100 rupiah per kilogram against the old price of 1,600, the same price charged by Bulog, while the basic brand of flour, Segitiga Biru, was 1,200 rupiah against 900.
ÿÿÿ The most popular grade of red chili, "cabe Keriting", was selling at 5,000-6,000 rupiah, up from 3,000-4,000 last year. Other grades posted only minor increases in prices.
ÿÿÿ Eggs were also one of the worst-hit staples, at 5,000-5,500 against 2000-3,500 in December.
ÿÿÿ "Blue Band" margarine, based on palm oil, was only available at one of the markets and was selling for 900 rupiah against 600.
ÿÿÿ Local beef was selling for 16,000 to 20,000 rupiah against 12,000-16,000,with prices of other cuts such as the heart and brain rising by a similar proportion.
ÿÿÿ Commercially produced chicken was selling for up to 20,000 rupiah per kilogram against 13,000, while goat meat was only marginally higher at 12,000 against 11,000.
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