The Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, has announced a significant shift in Indonesian consumption patterns. The focus is now increasingly on experience-based consumption, encompassing sectors such as transportation, restaurants, hotels, and tourism.
“This indicates that our society’s consumption patterns are now more inclined towards experiences rather than purchasing clothing,” Amalia stated in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 27, 2026, as reported by Antara. This evolving trend underscores a fundamental change in how Indonesians allocate their spending.
Amalia further elaborated that this transformation is clearly reflected in the household consumption components for the first quarter of 2026 (Q1-2026). During this period, the highest growth no longer originated from expenditures on clothing and footwear but instead from robust increases in transportation, as well as restaurant and hotel services, signaling a clear divergence from traditional spending habits.
According to Amalia, heightened public mobility during the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447 H period significantly contributed to this shift in consumption. BPS data notably recorded a 13.14 percent year-on-year growth in domestic tourist travel during Q1-2026, showcasing a strong resurgence in travel-related activities across the archipelago.
Explaining their advanced methodology, Amalia highlighted that data for domestic tourists is now calculated using mobile positioning data, a result of collaboration with three major telecommunication providers: Telkomsel, XL, and Indosat. This innovative approach accurately records people’s movements between regions while rigorously preserving the confidentiality of individual identities. “We measure domestic tourists not through surveys, but by how their mobility is captured from mobile positioning data,” she affirmed.
Beyond travel and experiences, a parallel shift in consumption behavior is evident in the increasing adoption of digital transactions. Amalia pointed out that trade transactions via electronic systems grew by 27.8 percent year-on-year and 6.19 percent quarter-on-quarter in Q1-2026. Moreover, transactions utilizing the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) surged by an impressive 111.94 percent year-on-year, highlighting the rapid embrace of digital payment solutions.
Amalia attributed these profound changes in consumption and transaction patterns to Indonesia’s evolving demographic structure, which is increasingly dominated by its younger generations. The BPS Inter-Censal Population Survey, released on May 5, 2026, revealed that Millennials and Generation Z (Gen Z) collectively account for nearly 49 percent of the total population.
When combined with the post-Gen Z cohort (individuals under 12 years old), who comprise 19.65 percent, approximately 68 percent of Indonesia’s populace falls within the millennial, Gen Z, and post-Gen Z age groups. “This is precisely why our society’s consumption patterns have undergone a transformation, unlike those of earlier times,” Amalia emphasized.
She concluded by stressing the critical importance for both businesses and policymakers to understand these consumption shifts, as domestic consumption remains the fundamental pillar supporting Indonesia’s economic stability and growth.
Pilihan Editor: Jika Utang Pemerintah Tembus Rp 10 Ribu Triliun
Summary
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports a significant shift in Indonesian consumption patterns toward experience-based spending, including tourism, transportation, and dining. In the first quarter of 2026, growth in these sectors outpaced traditional expenditures like clothing, driven by high mobility during the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr periods. To accurately track these trends, BPS now utilizes mobile positioning data to monitor domestic travel across the archipelago.
This transformation is accompanied by a rapid surge in digital transactions, with QRIS usage increasing by over 111 percent year-on-year. BPS attributes these evolving behaviors to Indonesia’s demographic structure, where Millennials and Generation Z collectively account for nearly 49 percent of the population. As domestic consumption remains a pillar of economic stability, understanding these shifts is essential for both businesses and policymakers.