In line with expectations, Indonesia’s inflation rate accelerated in August 2019. While the month of August normally brings mild deflation to Southeast Asia’s largest economy in the aftermath of the Ramadan and Idul Fitri celebrations (a period when demand for food and transportation peaks), Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that Indonesia’s monthly inflation in August was recorded at 0.12 percent month-to-month (m/m).

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Indonesian inflation remained under control in July 2019 although it was slightly higher than our estimate. Still, authorities will need to carefully monitor prices of specific food commodities amid the long dry season as inflation of the raw foodstuffs expenditure group has remained relatively high.

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Although Indonesia’s May consumer prices rose at their quickest pace in more than a year (which exceeded our expectations), Indonesian inflation remains at a comfortable level (for Indonesian standards).

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Based on the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), which were released on 1 April 2019, Indonesian consumer prices continued to ease in March 2019 (in line with estimates). However, what is remarkable is that Indonesia’s annual inflation rate – 2.48 percent (y/y) in March 2019 – fell below the central bank’s target range (Bank Indonesia has set its inflation target for full-year 2019 at the range of 2.5–4.5 percent y/y). Indonesia’s latest inflation figure is the nation’s lowest inflation since December 2009. By Indonesian standards, inflation is currently remarkably low, hence it should manage to encourage household consumption.

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Based on the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), consumer prices in Indonesia grew 2.57 percent year-on-year (y/y) in February 2019, a near-decade low, and below our forecast of 2.75 percent (y/y). The last time we saw this low level of inflation in Indonesia was back in November 2009.

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Based on a survey that was conducted by the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia), the nation's consumer price index is forecast to rise modestly in February 2019.

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For the 4th year in a row Indonesian inflation was under control. Based on data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the nation’s annual headline inflation rate was 3.13 percent in full-year 2018. By Indonesian standards, that is a low inflation figure. The final figure even fell below the central government’s 3.5 percent (y/y) target that was set in the 2018 state budget and it fell below our (revised) prediction of 3.25 percent (y/y). But it did fall conveniently within the central bank’s wide target range of 2.5 – 4.5 percent (y/y).

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Based on the latest data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the nation’s annual headline inflation rate increased 3.23 percent year-on-year (y/y) in November 2018. The result is higher than we had anticipated and also implies that Indonesia’s consumer price index has now accelerated for a second straight month.

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The latest data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (Badan Pusat Statistik, or BPS) show that Indonesia’s inflation rate accelerated more than we had expected. Indonesia’s consumer price index rose 0.28 percent month-on-month (m/m) in October 2018 and 3.16 percent year-on-year (y/y).

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Based on the latest data of Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia experienced deflation of 0.18 percent month-on-month (m/m) in September 2018, a figure that exceeded our expectations. Consequently, Indonesia's annual inflation slowed to a two-year low of 2.88 percent (y/y), down from 3.20 percent (y/y) in August 2018. Year to date, Indonesian inflation eased to 1.94 percent in the January-September 2018 period.

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It came as a big surprise to us when the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced on 19 November 2020 (the day it concluded its two-day monetary policy meeting) that it decided to cut its benchmark interest rate (the seven-day reverse repo rate) by 25 basis points to 3.75 percent. Bank Indonesia also cut its deposit facility and lending facility rates by 25 basis points to 3.00 percent and 4.50 percent, respectively.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided to cut its benchmark interest rate ("BI seven-day reverse repo rate") by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.75 percent at the two-day policy meeting on 19 and 20 February 2020.

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On Monday 1 July 2019 Statistics Indonesia (BPS) released Indonesia’s latest inflation data. The data show that headline inflation in Southeast Asia’s largest economy eased to a level of 0.55 percent month-on-month (m/m) in June 2019, down from 0.68 percent (m/m) in May 2019 when price pressures peaked due to Ramadan and Lebaran celebrations. This period always gives rise to a significant boost in consumption, hence prices of foodstuffs peak. Meanwhile, people also tend to buy new clothes, bags and shoes because they want to look good at these celebrations.

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There is concern that the Indonesian government's plan to curb price increases of (non-subsidized) fuels in Indonesia will impact negatively on private investors' enthusiasm to invest in Indonesia's oil and gas industry. Earlier this week Arcandra Tahar, Deputy Minister at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, informed that the government wants to regulate prices of fuels in order to keep inflation in check.

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The number of people who live in poverty in Indonesia fell by 1.19 million individuals, per September 2017, to 26.58 million, from 27.77 million poor people in March 2017 (Indonesia's Statistics Agency releases poverty data twice per year, covering the situation in the months March and September). This is a significant decline and therefore constitutes a very good development. In relative terms, Indonesia's poverty rate fell 0.52 percent from 10.64 percent to 10.12 percent (over the same period).

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Rising commodity prices are good for the Indonesian economy because the country is one of the world's biggest commodity exporters. However, rising commodity prices will also make it more difficult for the government to keep inflation within its target range of 2.5 - 4.5 percent year-on-year (y/y) in 2018.

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Bank Indonesia is content seeing Indonesia's inflation pace at a rather mild rate of 0.22 percent month-on-month (m/m) in July 2017. Dody Budi Waluyo, Executive Director of Economic and Monetary Policy at the central bank, said low and stable inflation is a positive asset for the economy as it supports the rupiah exchange rate as well as the investment climate and safeguards people's purchasing power.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) maintained its benchmark interest rate - the 7-day reverse repurchase rate - at 4.75 percent at the policy meeting on 17-18 May 2017, a decision that is in line with analysts' forecasts. Bank Indonesia said the decision is consistent with its efforts to maintain macroeconomic and financial system stability "by driving the domestic economic recovery process", while continue to monitor external threats stemming from US policy directions and geopolitical conditions, specifically in the Korea Peninsula, as well as domestic threats stemming from inflationary pressures and ongoing consolidation in the banking and corporate sectors.

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It is highly unlikely to see the continuation of deflation in April. Last month (March 2017) Indonesia recorded 0.02 percent of deflation, primarily on the back of easing food prices amid the big harvest season. This harvest season will continue into April and therefore we expect few (to none) inflationary pressures stemming from food products. However, administered price adjustments (specifically another round of higher electricity tariffs in March) will impact of April's inflation figure, while consumer prices may also start to feel the impact of the approaching Ramadan month.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) kept its benchmark interest rate (seven-day reverse repo rate) at 4.75 percent at the April policy meeting (19-20 April 2017), while its deposit facility rate and lending facility rate stayed at 4.00 percent and 5.50 percent, respectively. Bank Indonesia considers the current interest rate environment appropriate to face global uncertainties as well as rising inflationary pressures at home.

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