ID :
43781
Mon, 02/02/2009 - 22:02
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https://www.oananews.org//node/43781
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PRESIDENT: PEOPLE'S PURCHASING POWER HAS RISEN
Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here Monday, the Indonesian people's purchasing power in the 2004-2008 period had risen at a higher rate than the prices of basic necessaries.
He told a press connference after a limited cabinet meeting, "It was reported (at the meeting) that in the period 2004-2008, the people's purchasing power has risen at a higher rate than the prices of daily necessaries. 'The people' here refers to farmers, workers and civil servants. I am speaking based on facts and figures so that those who do not see things as a whole will not be confused."
Regarding the hikes in the price of basic necessaries, he said the problem should be viewed as a whole by comparing the price increases with the people's purchasing power because a low price was meaningless if the peoples' buying power was low.
"I have often called on all parties to look at the matter as whole by comparing the price increases with the people's buying power because even if prices are relatively low, if the people cannot afford to buy the goods, the burden the people have to bear will be the same. So, price hikes in a certain period accompanied by rising purchasing power is a better deal for the people," he said.
About the impact of the fuel oil price cuts since December last year, the President said they had also been followed by a reductions of 10 to 20 percent in public transport tariffs in several regions. The lowering of these prices, in addition to cuts in the basic electricity rate for industries, had helped to make the prices of some basic necessaries also drop systematically.
"The prices of some items are stable while those of other items have risen due to disruptions in the distribution of the goods as a result of bad weather," he said.
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu on the occasion said that between 2004 and 2008, the people's per capita income had risen 18.1 percent while the prices of basic necessaries had increased by an average of 11 to 12 percent.
She said the wages of farm workers, industrial workers and civil servants rose by 78 percent during the period while the prices of basic necessaries they were able to buy had increased by only 68 percent.
"The wages of farm workers in villages rose from Rp10,000 a day to Rp27,091 a day or 50 percent," she said.
In 2004, a daily wage of Rp10,000 was enough to buy only three kilograms of rice while in 2008 a daily wage of Rp27,091 could buy more than 4 kilograms of rice, she said.
"These figures show that there has been a real improvement in the life of farmers," she said.
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He told a press connference after a limited cabinet meeting, "It was reported (at the meeting) that in the period 2004-2008, the people's purchasing power has risen at a higher rate than the prices of daily necessaries. 'The people' here refers to farmers, workers and civil servants. I am speaking based on facts and figures so that those who do not see things as a whole will not be confused."
Regarding the hikes in the price of basic necessaries, he said the problem should be viewed as a whole by comparing the price increases with the people's purchasing power because a low price was meaningless if the peoples' buying power was low.
"I have often called on all parties to look at the matter as whole by comparing the price increases with the people's buying power because even if prices are relatively low, if the people cannot afford to buy the goods, the burden the people have to bear will be the same. So, price hikes in a certain period accompanied by rising purchasing power is a better deal for the people," he said.
About the impact of the fuel oil price cuts since December last year, the President said they had also been followed by a reductions of 10 to 20 percent in public transport tariffs in several regions. The lowering of these prices, in addition to cuts in the basic electricity rate for industries, had helped to make the prices of some basic necessaries also drop systematically.
"The prices of some items are stable while those of other items have risen due to disruptions in the distribution of the goods as a result of bad weather," he said.
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu on the occasion said that between 2004 and 2008, the people's per capita income had risen 18.1 percent while the prices of basic necessaries had increased by an average of 11 to 12 percent.
She said the wages of farm workers, industrial workers and civil servants rose by 78 percent during the period while the prices of basic necessaries they were able to buy had increased by only 68 percent.
"The wages of farm workers in villages rose from Rp10,000 a day to Rp27,091 a day or 50 percent," she said.
In 2004, a daily wage of Rp10,000 was enough to buy only three kilograms of rice while in 2008 a daily wage of Rp27,091 could buy more than 4 kilograms of rice, she said.
"These figures show that there has been a real improvement in the life of farmers," she said.
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