COVID-19 Already Crippling Traditional Markets in Solo
Translator
Editor
7 April 2020 12:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Surakarta Commerce Service stated that, since the COVID-19 outbreak in Surakarta, activities in traditional markets have fallen considerably.
“I have heard of the decline in visitors, the traders said it (the decrease) is up to 30 percent, but we have not conducted a survey related to that matter," said Chief of the Surakarta Commerce Service, Heru Sunardi, in Solo, on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
In order to handle the decline in visitor transactions in traditional markets, a number of traders prefer to sell by delivering the goods directly to the customer's home. "They use telephone or WA (whatsapp) to deliver the goods to the buyer's house. That's quite effective," Heru evaluated.
Despite the decline in the number of visitors transactions, Heru continued, currently, the distribution of goods has not encountered any problem, as seen from the stable increase in the prices of goods on the market.
"Yes, there are some goods that have risen in price, such as granulated sugar and chicken eggs" he added.
In spite of this, Heru ensured that the increase in the prices of staples has not resulted from the COVID-19 outbreak, as prices have steadily increased long before the outbreak. "We are also still looking for the cause of the price increase," said Heru.
ANTARA | DIO SUHENDA (INTERN TRANSLATOR)
