Business Daily What's going on with Indonesia's economy?
18 snips
Oct 14, 2025 Indonesia's economy faces turmoil as the president's populist promises clash with rising food prices and austerity measures. Businesses report dwindling sales, while families struggle to afford groceries. A jobs fair reveals fierce competition among the youth for limited opportunities, sparking student-led protests over economic hardships. The government responds with a stimulus package aimed at immediate relief, but can it fulfill its ambitious growth targets amidst these challenges?
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Family Shop Feels Demand Collapse
- Vanya Mulyadi runs a family shop in Jakarta that has traded women's fashion for travel goods over 25 years.
- She says footfall and sales have fallen to about a quarter of past levels, forcing her to consider other options.
Staple Prices Hide Real Hardship
- Official GDP growth and low headline inflation mask rising prices for staples like rice and cooking oil.
- These staple price jumps are squeezing household real incomes despite steady macro indicators.
Household Budget Stretched Thin
- Apriyanti, a 50-year-old stay-at-home mother from Jakarta, says groceries now exhaust the household budget mid-month.
- She sometimes skips cooking the next day to stretch food when money runs out.