Jakarta, Feb. 1 -- Statistics Indonesia (BPS) stated that the increase in prices of food commodities, including rice, has been caused by weather factors and damage to several infrastructures.

"One of the causes of the price increase is the insufficient stocks in several areas, particularly due to the impacts of weather factors and the damage to road access and hindrances in food commodity distribution," Acting Head of BPS Amalia A. Widyasanti remarked here, Thursday.

Widyasanti explained that in general, an increase in rice prices occurred in 28 provinces, while the prices in 10 other provinces showed a decline. All provinces in Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara experienced an increase in rice prices.

She further noted that the high prices...