Indonesian consumers are concerned about the looming subsidized fuel price hike this month according to the latest survey of Nielsen, a global information and measurement company. Based on the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions (covering the third quarter of 2014), 28% of respondents said that higher prices of subsidized fuels are among their top two main concerns. In the previous survey (which covered Q2-2014), the subsidized fuel price hike was not even mentioned among the top five concerns.

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A survey of Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia) shows that Indonesian consumer confidence declined slightly to 119.8 points in September 2014 (from 120.2 points in the previous month) on concerns that price increases will limit people’s purchasing power. These concerns are triggered by president-elect Joko Widodo’s plans to raise prices of subsidized fuels before the year-end in an effort to safeguard the country’s financial fundamentals. Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi) will be inaugurated on 20 October 2014.

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According to data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), domestic car sales in Indonesia rose 13 percent to 109,706 car units in June 2014 from the previous month (97,147 vehicles) as people increased car purchases ahead of the Idul Fitri (Lebaran) festivities, which commence after the holy fasting month of Ramadan has ended on 28 July. Idul Fitri involves the exodus of millions of Indonesians from the cities to their places of origin. Ahead of this celebration, car sales always increase.

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Chitose Internasional, an Indonesian furniture manufacturer intends to release 30 percent of its enlarged capital through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in June 2014. Currently, the company is trying to obtain approval from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in order to conduct the IPO. President Director of Chitose Internasional Dedie Suherlan said that the proceeds will be used for the construction of a new factory, which will produce wood-based furniture products. This factory should become operational in 2015.

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Indonesia's domestic consumption is expected to continue its steady growth in the next five to 10 years as Indonesia's rapidly expanding middle class is becoming increasingly consumptive and eager to follow the latest trends (purchasing the latest trendy products). This expanding middle class is the result of robust economic growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy. Although currently slowing, the country's annual gross domestic product growth has reached an average of almost 6 percent since 2005.

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The Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) expects Indonesia's car sales to increase by ten percent to 1.3 million sold vehicles for the year 2014. Growth in car sales will be particularly supported by sales in the Jakarta region, Indonesia's most densely populated area and which constitutes the country's economic and political center. In 2013, Indonesia will most likely set a new car sales record. Supported by popular low cost green car sales (LCGCs), total sales are expected to reach 1.2 million units in 2013.

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Per 14 November 2013, 24 Indonesian provinces have confirmed their new provincial minimum wage for the year 2014. As Indonesia numbers 34 provinces in total, 10 more provinces are expected to announce their new minimum wages soon. It is interesting to note that of the 24 provinces that have already published the new minimum wage, 11 provinces have set the minimum wage below the assumed need for decent living in the province, which implies that the minimum wage is not enough to finance a person's minimum monthly basic needs.

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Indonesia continues to top the ranking of countries with the highest consumer confidence in the third quarter of 2013 although its score fell four points from the second quarter to 120. According to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, consumers in Indonesia are optimistic due to the general elections in mid-2014 and growth of the country's middle class. However, as inflation surged after prices of subsidized fuels were raised in June, the score fell slightly.

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After two days of demonstrations by tens of thousands of Indonesian workers, the Governor of Jakarta (Joko Widodo) raised the capital's minimum wage to IDR 2.4 million (USD $213) per month. The new minimum wage, proposed by the Jakarta Wage Council, will be implemented in 2014 and constitutes a 10% increase from the current minimum wage of IDR 2.2 million. The workers, however, had demanded for a minimum wage of IDR 3.7 million causing various institutions and analysts to express concerns about the impact on the investment climate.

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Fitch Ratings, the global rating agency, expects slower growth in Indonesia's property sector for the next 12 months. However, for the longer term, the institution still maintains a positive outlook as Indonesia is characterized by high urbanization, a rapidly expanding middle class and low mortgage rates. Since the revival in 2011, the average selling price of Indonesia's residential properties increased by about 30 percent year-on-year, particularly in the Greater Jakarta area.

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Chief executive officers (CEOs) in Indonesia have become slightly less optimistic about the Indonesian economy and politics. This makes sense considering the presence of simmering global trade tensions, sharp rupiah depreciation against the US dollar, and Bank Indonesia's recent series of interest rate hikes.

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There are signs that household consumption in Indonesia is rebounding ahead of this year's Idul Fitri holiday. This would be a great boost for Indonesia's overall economic growth as private consumption accounts for around 57 percent of the nation's total economic growth. One of the reasons why Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been stuck around the 5 percent (y/y) mark in recent years is subdued household consumption (which has fallen slightly below the 5 percent y/y mark).

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Corporate earnings of Indonesia-based food manufacturer Indofood Sukses Makmur, which ranks among the biggest companies that are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, are affected by subdued household consumption and fierce competition in the processed foods and beverage sector of Indonesia. Indofood Sukses Makmur has operations in each stage of the food manufacturing process, ranging from the production and processing of raw materials to consumer end-products on retailers' shelves.

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Consumer goods companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange are expected to experience two good years in 2018 and 2019 due to the presence of the "political years" (regional elections in 2018 followed by legislative and presidential elections in 2019). Traditionally, consumption rises amid these "parties of democracy" and therefore those consumer goods companies with strong brands are expected to see rising sales in this period.

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Household consumption in Indonesia is expected to improve in 2018. This assumption is based on a number of indicators that show a positive trend. For example, consumer confidence in Indonesia rose to 126.4 points in December 2017. The country's macroeconomic picture is also strengthening with accelerating economic growth, low inflation and a stable (or actually appreciating) rupiah rate.

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Within Indonesia it is still being debated whether consumers' purchasing power has really weakened in the third quarter. Some argue consumers are currently focused on saving their money rather than spending it (this explains rising third-party funds in Indonesia's banking system). Others argue that Indonesia's household consumption data are distorted because this year's Ramadan and Idul Fitri celebrations fell in the second quarter of the year (whereas in 2016 these celebrations fell in Q3).

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Over the past couple of months there have been many reports about Indonesia's weak consumer purchasing power. For example, the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) said it detected rather weak retail sales during this year's Idul Fitri period (the week-long holiday that marks the end of the Islamic fasting month). Whereas these sales rose 16.3 percent during last year's edition of Idul Fitri, they rose only by an estimated 5-6 percent this year.

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Bank Indonesia (BI) is the central bank of the Republic of Indonesia, and was known as "De Javasche bank" or "The Java Bank" in the colonial period.  Bank Indonesia was founded on 1 July 1953 from the nationalization of De Javasche Bank. As an independent state institution, Bank Indonesia is fully autonomous in formulating and implementing each of its assumed tasks and most policy goals tend to center around the ability to stabilize prices in the economy.

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Packaged food producer Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur, subsidiary of Indofood Sukses Makmur, is expected to see rising profit in the second half of 2016 on the back of lower prices of raw materials (particularly wheat flour, the key ingredient for instant noodles), the stronger rupiah and improved purchasing power of Indonesia's consumer force. Meanwhile, the company may manage to curb losses that originate from the beverage segment. Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur has 6 business segments: noodles, dairy, snack foods, food seasoning, nutrition and special food products, and beverages.

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Growth in the fast moving consumer goods sector will surely boost overall growth and the financial performance of Indofood Sukses Makmur, one of Indonesia's largest food manufacturing firms. Moreover, the stronger rupiah and lower costs of raw materials will also impact positively on the company's earnings. Indofood Sukses Makmur, part of the Salim Group, offers a wide variety of food and beverage products to Indonesian consumers ranging from instant noodles, dairy, snacks, food seasoning, and nutrition to special foods and beverages.

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