Idul Fitri Bonuses to Boost Retail Commerce

Retail businesspeople are optimistic that sales during the Ramadhan fasting month and Idul Fitri holiday will be even higher this year on account of Idul Fitri and annual bonuses.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

People shop for clothes at Kranji Market in Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday (24/5/2018).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Retail businesspeople are optimistic sales can grow 20-35 percent in Ramadhan and Idul Fitri this year. The government’s disbursement of Rp 35.76 trillion (US$2.54 billion) in Idul Fitri and annual bonuses for civil servants, police and military personnel as well as state pensioners is expected to boost consumption.

The optimism was expressed by, among others, Indonesian Shopping Center Tenants Association (Hippindo) chair Budihardjo Iduansjah and Indonesia Retailers Association (Aprindo) chair Roy N Mandey. Both set a target of two-digit growth this year.