Menkeu Buka Suara Soal Deflasi 5 Bulan Beruntun [Top News]

Summary

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani addressed concerns about Indonesia's deflation over the past five months, attributing it to volatile food prices. She emphasized that falling food prices, especially in essential items like rice, benefit low-income consumers. Inflation remains above 2% year-on-year, indicating strong demand. Mulyani is optimistic about fiscal policies targeting these conditions. Meanwhile, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has yet to offer a solution but suggests the price drops may be linked to seasonal harvest changes, such as excess supply of chili and onions. The government will further investigate these trends.

Takeaways

• 📉 The Finance Minister Sri Mulyani addressed the five consecutive months of deflation in Indonesia.
• 🤔 The Minister emphasized that this deflation is not a negative signal for the economy.
• 🌾 Deflation in Indonesia is primarily driven by volatile food prices, particularly in the agriculture sector.
• 🍽️ Lower food prices, especially for staples, have stabilized market prices, with some even declining.
• 🛒 The decline in food prices is seen as beneficial for lower-income households, who spend the majority of their budget on food.
• 📊 Despite the deflation, inflation remains above 2%, specifically at 2.09% year-on-year as of September, indicating sustained demand.
• 👍 The Finance Minister is optimistic that fiscal policies are appropriately targeted to address the situation.
• 🧐 The Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, admitted that there is no immediate solution to the prolonged deflation.
• 🌶️ Zulkifli highlighted that certain products like chili, onions, and eggs are particularly affected by the deflation.
• 📅 He noted that the abundant supply of agricultural goods, due to favorable weather conditions, is a contributing factor, and further analysis is needed.

Q & A

What does Sri Mulyani believe about the deflation in Indonesia over the past 5 months?

Sri Mulyani believes that the deflation is not a negative signal for the economy and attributes it to volatile food prices, particularly in the agricultural sector.

What component does Sri Mulyani highlight as a key factor behind the deflation?

Sri Mulyani highlights 'volatile food' prices, specifically commodities like food staples, as the key factor behind the deflation in Indonesia.

How does the decline in food prices impact consumers, according to Sri Mulyani?

According to Sri Mulyani, the decline in food prices, especially for the middle and lower-income groups who spend a significant portion of their budget on food, helps stabilize the cost of living and benefits consumers.

What does Sri Mulyani suggest about inflation and its current rate?

Sri Mulyani points out that despite the deflation, inflation remains above 2%, specifically at 2.09% year on year in September, which indicates strong demand in the economy.

What is Sri Mulyani's outlook on the government's fiscal policy in response to deflation?

Sri Mulyani is optimistic that the government's fiscal policies are correctly targeted and will help address the situation positively.

What does Zulkifli Hasan, the Minister of Trade, say about finding a solution to the ongoing deflation?

Zulkifli Hasan admits that the government has not yet found a solution to the ongoing deflation over the past five months but promises that they are investigating the causes.

What commodities are mentioned by Zulkifli Hasan as being particularly affected by price drops?

Zulkifli Hasan specifically mentions that prices for commodities like chilies, onions, and eggs have become very cheap.

What natural factors does Zulkifli Hasan suggest may be contributing to the drop in food prices?

Zulkifli Hasan suggests that favorable weather conditions, such as the end of heavy rains and successful harvests, may have contributed to the large supply of food items like onions and chilies, causing prices to drop.

What does Zulkifli Hasan imply about the relationship between supply and consumer demand in this deflation period?

Zulkifli Hasan implies that the large supply of food items, combined with potential drops in consumer purchasing power, could be factors contributing to the ongoing deflation.

What steps does Zulkifli Hasan plan to take to address the deflation issue?

Zulkifli Hasan plans to further investigate and analyze the causes of the deflation, including examining the supply chain and demand patterns in the market.