The central statistics noted, inflation in October 2020 reached 0.07 percent. This makes inflation the first month after Indonesia experienced deflation for three consecutive months from July to September. Even so, the inflation phenomenon has not shown any recovery in people's purchasing power.

The inflation rate in the last month reached 0.04 percent. This realization fell significantly compared to the last few months, such as August and September, which were at the level of 0.29 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Suhariyanto as Head of statistical explained that core inflation is often used as an indicator of the purchasing power of society as a whole. "In general, I conclude, core inflation shows that purchasing power has not recovered," he told a virtual press conference, Monday (2/11).

Low core inflation did not only happen in the last month. In June, the core inflation rate even reached 0.02 percent, which was the lowest level this year

Suhariyanto explained that the cause of the low core inflation was not solely due to people's ability to consume. The characteristics and behavior of different household groups during the Covid-19 pandemic were a factor.

Suhariyanto said, 40 percent of the lowest strata of society have experienced a decrease in purchasing power. Some of them had to be laid off or sent home due to economic pressures in the midst of the pandemic. "They have experienced a decrease in wages, so their purchasing power has shown a decline.

Source : https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/11/02/inflation-shows-weak-purchasing-power-to-drag-out-economic-recovery.html