INDONESIA: Soaring food and fuel costs are hurting people's pockets but many are still spending

By Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja , INDONESIA CORRESPONDENT

JAKARTA: Housewife Vira Alfiani is one of many Muslim Indonesians suffering the Ramadan blues, after food prices jumped more than 20 per cent this month from a year earlier.

The 29-year-old thought she would be all right after her husband - who works for an Indonesian company making shoes for Nike - received a raise roughly matching the 11.85 per cent annual inflation rate just two months ago

She thought wrong.

MALAYSIA: Price hikes take shine off festivity as bazaar traders complain of poorer business

By Hazlin Hassan, Malaysia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is among the Islamic world's richest countries and Kuala Lumpur's Ramadan bazaars are normally packed with people stocking up for late-night feasts, but soaring prices have dampened celebrations this year.

Inflation spiralled to a 27-year high in June, after a fuel price hike sent the cost of food and transport rocketing.

With the traders in the bazaars having to pay more for essentials such as rice, oil, poultry, eggs and bread, they have also put their prices up - and are now complaining about a noticeable decline in custom.

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