RI'S INFLATION UP 0.84 PCT IN JANUARY

Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's inflation rate in January rose 0.84 percent, bringing the year-on-year inflation rate to 3.72 percent, the Central Statistics Bureau (BPS) said.

"The increase in the inflation rate was mainly fueled by rising food prices," BPS Chief Rusman Heriawan said on Monday.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said earlier the price of rice had risen because of the belated harvest time as a result of heavy rains in several parts of the country.

Rice is the main staple food for 231 million Indonesians.

The BPS noted the group of food stuffs which recorded inflation of 1.73 percent in January, causing the year-on-year inflation to increase to 4.88 percent.

The agency said the group of processed foods, beverages, cigarettes and tobacco saw an inflation of 1.93 percent and the year-on-year inflation rose to 8.86 percent.

The group of clothing underwent a deflation of 0.20 percent in January but on a yearly basis, it recorded an inflation of 5.21 percent, the BPS said.
It said the group of housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel contributed 0.34 percent to the January inflation rate with the year-on-year inflation rate standing at 2.24 percent.

The agency said the group of health care experienced an inflation of 0.15 percent, bringing the year-on-year inflation to 3.67 percent.

The group of education, recreation and sports contributed 0.10 percent to the on-month inflation and the year-on-year inflation rose 3.86 percent.

The group of transportation, communication and financial services underwent an inflation of 0.16 percent but on a yearly basis, it saw a deflation of 1.01 percent.
The deflation was chiefly caused by a decline in flight tickets and cellular phone prices, Rusman said.

The BPS noted that in January 2010 core components recorded an inflation of 0.59 percent and administered prices underwent a deflation of 0.18 percent.

The year-on-year inflation rate hit a decade-low of 2.78 percent in December last year.