A bustling atmosphere enveloped the Ibu Ruswo Street area in Yogyakarta on Sunday (12/7/2026). Just one day before the start of the new school year, hundreds of parents and students packed the school uniform trading center to fulfill their study supply needs.
This phenomenon has become an annual tradition in the area. The majority of consumers are students who have just transitioned to a higher level of education, thus requiring new-sized uniforms. Traders admitted to anticipating this surge in demand by increasing their inventory well in advance.
Sumarni, a trader on Ibu Ruswo Street, revealed that the peak of buyer density usually occurs during the final week before school starts. Despite price adjustments for some types of uniforms—ranging around IDR 250,000 for a set of high school uniform—public purchasing power remains high and has not experienced a significant decline.
Not only at the uniform centers, a similar bustle was also seen at stationery stores in the Gejayan area. The surge in checkout queues forced store managers to extend operating hours until 10:00 PM, or one hour longer than normal, to ensure all customers were served.
This condition serves as a positive indicator for the local economic rotation in Yogyakarta. The increased turnover of traders in the educational supplies sector makes a real contribution to driving business wheels, while also offering hope amid the challenges of a slowing economy.
