In September 2022, a combination of five cities in North Sumatra (Sibolga, Pematangsiantar, Medan, Padangsidimpuan, and Gunungsitoli) experienced inflation of 1.00 percent with a Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 111.82. Of the five CPI cities in North Sumatra, all recorded inflation, namely Sibolga of 0.33 percent; Pematangsiantar by 1.50 percent; Medan by 0.98 percent; Padangsidimpuan by 0.99 percent; and Gunung Sitoli by 0.61 percent.
Inflation occurred due to an increase in prices as indicated by an increase in the price index of most expenditure groups, namely clothing and footwear by 0.76 percent; household equipment, equipment, and routine maintenance group by 0.70 percent; health group by 0.26 percent; transportation group by 11.73 percent; recreation, sports, and culture groups by 1.43 percent; education group by 0.49 percent; food and beverage/restaurant supply group by 0.18 percent; and the personal care and other services group by 1.26 percent. The groups that experienced a decline in the index were the food, beverage and tobacco group by 1.27 percent. Meanwhile the housing, water, electricity, and household fuel groups; and the information, communication, and financial services groups did not change.
The main commodities contributing to inflation during September 2022 include gasoline, urban transportation, rice, diesel, men's jeans, inter-city transportation, and high school fees.
The inflation rate for the calendar year (January-September 2022) is 5.23 percent and the year-on-year inflation rate (September 2022 to September 2021) is 6.14 percent