Indonesia’s Inflation Hits 3.19% as Tito Urges Action on Food Prices

Indonesia’s inflation reached 3.19% year on year in August 2026, Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian said, as he urged local governments to pay closer attention to rising food prices.

Monthly inflation from July to August stood at 0.21%. Food and beverages drove much of the increase, with broiler chicken, bird’s-eye chili, fresh fish and rice among the main contributors.

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What we need to watch and intervene in is prices, especially food and beverages, in areas where the data from Statistics Indonesia shows specific pressure.

Speaking at an inflation-control coordination meeting in Jakarta on Monday, Tito asked regional administrations to intervene in areas where Statistics Indonesia data shows price pressure. Measures could include distributing Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices rice and holding low-cost markets.

Tito also warned that production could fall because of prolonged drought, forest fires and other risks. He identified North Maluku as the province with the highest inflation, at 5.28%. Kapuas recorded the highest rate among regencies, at 6.2%, while Ternate led among cities at 5.75%.

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That is what we have to keep stable: prices of food, goods and services, with food the most important because it concerns people’s livelihoods and purchasing power.

He praised North Kalimantan, Morowali Regency and Palopo for comparatively controlled inflation, with rates of 2.17%, 1.22% and 1.73%, respectively. Tito said Palopo had recorded the best result among 98 cities the previous week.

Tito said price stability must protect consumers without making it impossible for farmers, fishers, producers and industrial businesses to cover operating costs. Home Affairs Secretary-General Tomsi Tohir separately identified rice, chicken and chili as commodities requiring local intervention and warned administrations not to delay action on rice prices.

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This was the best among the 98 cities last week, Palopo. Thank you.