TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Increased tariffs of air transportation including airfares throughout the first quarter of this year contributed 0.03 percent to March’s inflation rate, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded.

BPS head Suharyanto said the condition was unusual as the air transportation sector would only contribute to inflation in certain months.

“[Based on] last year’s patterns, air transportation only contributed to the inflation rate in specific months or during school holidays. Usually, there is no contribution to the inflation rate in February and March,” said Suharyanto in his office, Central Jakarta, on Monday, April 1.

Read: Airfare Hike; Homecomers Prefer to Use Land over Air Transport

In February, the sector contributed 0.03 percent to inflation, higher than January’s 0.02 percent. In December 2018, airfares contributed up to 0.19 percent to the rate.

Generally, the BPS recorded March’s inflation rate at 0.11 percent or 2.48 percent year-on-year, while the rate throughout January until March was recorded at 0.35 percent.

According to Suharyanto, a total of 82 cities in the country saw inflation, while the other 31 experienced deflation. The higher rate occurred in Ambon at 0.86 percent with the consumer price index (CPI) at 132.17. On the contrary, the lowest inflation was recorded in Bekasi and Tangerang at 0.01 percent with the CPI at 133.26 and 143.56, respectively.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA