TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: State statistics agency reported 0.14 percent deflation during March, the first time since the beginning of the year due to 0.24 percent deflation in raw food material. Fourty seven cities out of 66 observed recorded a deflation and the remaining 19 saw inflation as raw food material comodities posted 0.24 percent deflation.The agency said rising foodstock after recent harvest season has brought down food prices. Rice and chilly prices down and by an average of 0.16 percent. The highest inflation of 0.1 percent was recorded in health, transport, communication, and financial services, followed by processed food, beverage, and tobacco products of with 0.05 and housng, utilities, and fuel with 0.03 percent.Prices in garments, education, and tourism and sport sectors remained saw no increase or declined last month.City with the highest deflation was Sibolga in North Sumatera with 0.99 percent, while Singkawang was listed on the top of the regions with the highst inflation was Singkawang, West Kalimantan with 1,70 percent.Year to date inflation at the end of march became 0.99 percent due to the deflation while year on year figure moved to 3.43 percent.The agency recorded 0.84 percent inflation during January this year which declined to 0.30 percent ain February.FAMEGA SYAVIRA | BOBBY CHANDRA
