Mataram, NTB - The West Nusa Tenggara government has prepared a cheap market to boost people's shopping enthusiasm so that economic growth in West Nusa Tenggara moves in line with the ideal annual inflation rate of 1-2 percent.
"Inflation in West Nusa Tenggara is at zero point, meaning that people are spending less. Hopefully, conditions will improve in Ramadan," said Head of the NTB Trade Service Baiq Nelly Yuniarti when met in Mataram, NTB, Tuesday.
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that West Nusa Tenggara experienced month-on-month deflation of 0.55 percent in January 2025. Meanwhile, annual inflation was at 0.68 percent.
Nelly said that her party held a cheap market for 20 days during Ramadan as an effort to control the rising prices of commodities, while also boosting people's purchasing power.
According to him, the cheap market is carried out in every village, but the activity depends on the budget owned by the district/city. The NTB Provincial Government held a cheap market in the Mataram Mall area.
"The district/city is designing it (cheap market) and only Bima Regency has reported preparing subsidies. If other districts have not, the methods are different," said Nelly.
On February 25, 2025, the NTB Trade Service monitored the cheap market carried out by the Mataram City Trade Service located at the Kekalik Jaya Village Office, Sekarbela District, Mataram City.
The cheap market presents distributors and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as several fostered by local governments. The public is enthusiastic about shopping for basic necessities at the cheap market.
The government sells five kilograms of Ramos rice for Rp71 thousand, Polosan rice for Rp65 thousand, Minyakita for Rp15 thousand per liter, shallots for Rp22 thousand per kilogram, garlic for Rp44 thousand per kilogram, large eggs for Rp50 thousand per carpet, medium eggs for Rp45 thousand per carpet, small eggs for Rp35 thousand per kilogram, and granulated sugar for Rp17,500 per kilogram.
The cheap market also sells various other food needs, such as vegetables, processed fish and meat, soap, and instant noodles.