Consumer prices in Ternate, the largest city in North Maluku province, followed a pronounced seasonal pattern in 2023, according to year-on-year and month-to-month inflation data from Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The year-on-year rate reached its highest point in February at 6.8 percent, driven by a sharp 1.85 percent monthly jump that month — a spike likely linked to demand pressures ahead of Ramadan, which began in late March that year.
The elevated pace persisted into spring: April and May recorded year-on-year rates of 5.63 percent and 5.71 percent, respectively, coinciding with the Ramadan and Idul Fitri period when food and transportation costs typically rise. After June's 5.37 percent, the headline number cooled markedly in the second half of the year, dipping to 3.34 percent by September.
Month-to-month figures revealed three months of outright deflation. March saw the steepest fall at -1.26 percent, possibly reflecting a post-surge correction as supply chains normalised after the February spike. September and November also saw slight price declines of -0.42 percent and -0.2 percent. For the year, month-on-month moves were otherwise modest, ranging from near zero in January and June (0.1 and 0.01 percent) to 1.64 percent in December, when end-of-year holiday spending added pressure.
In contrast, year-on-year readings for October through December remained between 3.9 and 4.41 percent, well below the early-year peaks. Across all 24 monthly observations, the average inflation rate was 2.53 percent, suggesting that while seasonal price swings were sharp, overall inflationary pressures remained contained in Ternate for 2023.
Source: Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS) — Web API · Tuesday, 23 June 2026, 04:49
