In August 2018, Metro Municipality experienced inflation of 0.20 percent due to an increase in the index from 138.37 in July 2018 to 138.65 in August 2018. Five expenditure groups contributed to the formation of inflation, namely the education, recreation and sports group 0.3211 percent; followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel by 0.0348 percent; then processed foods, beverages, cigarettes and tobacco by 0.0129 percent; clothing group by 0.0094 percent and health group by 0.0039 percent. In contrast, expenditure groups that contributed to the formation of deflation, namely the foodstuffs group by 0.1573 percent and the transportation, communication and financial services group by 0.0204 percent.
Some of the dominant commodities contributing to inflation include high schools, primary schools, junior high schools, rice, chicken meat, bloating, RT servants' wages, vegetable tomatoes, cassava leaves and detergent soap.
Inflation Metro City was ranked 14th out of 82 cities that observed price developments, there were 30 CPI cities experiencing inflation and 52 cities experiencing deflation. The highest inflation occurred in Tarakan by 0.62 percent and the lowest inflation was experienced by Medan and Padangsidimpuan by 0.01 percent. While the highest deflation occurred in Bau-Bau by 2.49 percent and the lowest deflation occurred in Jember by 0.01 percent.
Metro City, in August 2018 based on the calculation of calendar year inflation (Point to Point) of 1.06 percent and year on year (YoY) inflation of 1.72 percent.