Central Bank Warns of Months of Rising Inflation

Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Mirza Adityaswara speaks to journalists.

Jakarta, 09 Rajab 1438/06 April 2017 (MINA) – Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia Mirza Adityaswara said the period ahead of Islamic fasting month and Eid Al-Fitr will bring about an economic challenge for the government to keep inflation from surging.

“We still have challenge to control inflation brought on ahead and during Eid Al-Fitr and by possible oil price hike,” Antara News reported, citing Mirza’s statement here on Wednesday.

He said he appreciated the success in keeping inflation low in the first three months of the year, but the trend would not likely continue in the coming several months.

Therefore, he called for extra hard work to keep inflation under control ahead and during Eid Al-Fitr when prices normally rose significantly in this Muslim predominantly country.

“The deflation in March was attributable to harvest time, but it should not let us to relax too much as Eid Al-Fitr is not too far away,” kata Mirza.

The Central Bureau of Statistic (BPS) said in March, 2017 the country recorded a deflation of 0.02 percent bringing the cumulative inflation to 1.19 percent in the first three months of the year and 3.61 percent on year in March.

The deflation followed food price fall such as the prices of red chili, rice, fresh fish, eggs and garlic.

Bank Indonesias target for the country’s inflation in 2017 is 4-5 percent.(T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)