Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) informed that both the nation's exports and imports rose for a third straight month (on a year-on-year basis) in December 2016. However, the growth pace slowed compared to the preceding month. Indonesia's exports climbed 15.6 percent (y/y) to USD $13.77 billion in the last month of 2016, slightly exceeding expectations and touching the highest export earnings of the past 24 months. Meanwhile, Indonesia's imports climbed 5.8 percent (y/y) to USD $12.78 billion in December 2016, also slightly surpassing expectations.

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According to the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), full-year inflation reached 3.02 percent in 2016, just within the 3 - 5 percent year-on-year (y/y) target range that was set by the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia). The 3.02 percent growth was the lowest annual inflation figure of Indonesia since 2012. In December 2016 Indonesia's consumer price index rose by 0.42 percent month-to-month (m/m), one of the lowest monthly (December) growth paces over the past decade.

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Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Thursday (15/12) that the nation's export performance in November 2016 showed a sharp increase. Sasmito Hadi Wibowo, Deputy for Statistics Distribution and Services at BPS, said Indonesia's export growth was "rather spectacular" and gives rise to optimism that global demand and trade have improved. In November Indonesia posted a USD $838 million trade surplus, down from the revised USD $1.24 billion in the preceding month. In all of the first eleven months of 2016, Indonesia recorded a trade surplus.

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Inflation in Indonesia accelerated to 3.58 percent year-on-year (y/y) in November 2016, from 3.31 percent (y/y) in the preceding month. Acceleration of Indonesian inflation last month was faster than expected, with estimates averaging 3.43 percent (y/y). On a month-on-month (m/m) basis inflation rose by 0.47 percent in November. Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced the country's latest inflation data just before noon on Thursday (01/12).

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Unemployment in Indonesia eased to 5.61 percent of the national workforce - or 7.03 million people in absolute terms - in August 2016, improving from 6.18 percent in the same period one year earlier. On Monday (07/11), Indonesia's central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported these latest data. BPS released the nation's unemployment data twice per year, covering the months August and February. BPS Chairman Suhariyanto attributed the decline in unemployment to three matters: (1) the rising number of female workers, (2) the expanding size of workers in the informal sector, and (3) the e-commerce boom.

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Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that inflation in Indonesia was recorded at 0.14 percent month-on-month (m/m) in October 2016, slightly higher than had been expected by analysts but lower compared to the 0.22 percent (m/m) of inflation that was reported in the preceding month. Meanwhile, on an annual basis (y/y), Indonesia's inflation rate accelerated to a seasonally adjusted 3.31 percent (y/y) in October, from 3.07 percent (y/y) in the preceding month.

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Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced that the nation's trade surplus improved to USD $1.22 billion in September 2016, the highest monthly surplus over the past 13 months. The rising surplus was primarily the result of a growing non-oil & gas trade surplus. However, both Indonesia's exports and imports contracted on an annual basis. But because imports declined more rapidly, Southeast Asia's largest economy managed to record a solid trade surplus in September, beating analysts' estimates, by far (that averaged around USD $450 million).

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Although at a slower pace, Indonesia's exports and imports continued to contract in August 2016. In August Indonesia exported USD $12.63 billion worth of goods down 0.75 percent on a year-on-year basis (much better than analysts had forecast). Meanwhile, Indonesia imported USD $12.34 billion worth of goods in August, down 0.49 percent (y/y). As such, the trade balance in August showed a USD $293.6 million surplus. However, Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) added that it was the 23rd month of declining imports and exports for Indonesia.

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According to the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), wealth disparity has narrowed slightly in Indonesia, reflected by a declining Gini ratio from 0.408 in March 2015 to 0.397 in March 2016 (zero represents perfect equality, while 1 represents perfect inequality). This development is attributed to several matters, including rising earnings among Indonesia's middle-income segment. BPS noted that this increase comes on the back of government-led labor-intensive infrastructure development projects.

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Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Monday (15/08) that the trade balance of Indonesia showed a surplus of USD $598 million in July 2016, down from a USD $879.2 million surplus in the preceding month and considerably below analyst forecasts. Although Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, booked a USD $4.2 billion trade surplus in the first seven months of 2016, concern about Indonesia's weakening exports and imports persist. Faster falling imports (compared to exports) explains the trade surplus.

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Indonesia posted a USD $1.02 billion trade surplus in September 2015, higher than analysts' estimates and up from a revised USD $328 million trade surplus recorded in the preceding month. It was the tenth consecutive monthly trade surplus for Indonesia. However, the country's September trade surplus is primarily the result of rapidly declining imports, reflecting weak investment growth and weak consumption in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday morning (04/05) that Indonesia’s inflation accelerated to 6.79 percent year-on-year (y/y) in April 2015. On a month-to-month basis, Indonesian inflation was recorded at 0.36 percent in April. Although this result is in line with analysts’ previous projections, April inflation realization is in sharp contrast with the ‘usual’ inflation pace in the fourth month of the year. Usually, Indonesia records slight deflation in April as prices ease amid the peak of the harvest season.

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After having recorded a trade deficit for several months, Indonesia finally posted a USD $20 million trade surplus in October 2014, according to data from the country’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released on Monday (01/12). Exports in October amounted to USD $15.35 billion, while imports were recorded at USD $15.33 billion. The improvement in Indonesia’s trade balance was mainly on the back of growth in the country’s non-oil & gas sector exports. This sector saw a surplus of USD $1.13 billion (up from USD $760 million in September).

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According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the country’s trade balance in June 2014 recorded a deficit of USD $0.30 billion after the USD $0.05 billion surplus in the previous month. The performance of Indonesia’s trade balance was influenced by shrinkage of the country’s non-oil & gas surplus amid a lower oil & gas deficit compared to May 2014. Meanwhile, inflation was up 0.93 percent (month-to-month) in July 2014; a good performance amid the Ramadan and Idul Fitri festivities. Annual inflation eased to 4.53 percent (year-on-year).

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Head of Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Suryamin announced on Tuesday (01/07) that the number of poor people in Indonesia declined slightly to 28.28 million people (or 11.25 percent of the total population) in March 2014, from 28.60 million (11.46 percent of the total population) in September 2013. However, compared to March last year, poverty has increased by 110,000 people due to high inflation and a slowing economy; economic growth slowed to 5.78 percent in 2013 and this decline continued to 5.21 percent in the first quarter of 2014.

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Today (02/06), Statistics Indonesia released various important economic data that provide more insight into the state of the Indonesian economy. Two of these indicators - inflation and trade - are discussed in this column. Head of Statistics Indonesia Suryamin announced that inflation in May 2014 rose by 0.16 percent (slightly higher than previously expected), while the April 2014 trade balance of Indonesia recorded a USD $1.96 billion deficit. These data were not well received by the market, evidenced by sharp rupiah depreciation.

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Recently, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) released various data in the context of Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP). Economic expansion of Southeast Asia's largest economy slowed to 5.78 percent (year-on-year) in 2013. Household consumption accounted for the largest share of Indonesia's GDP (55.8 percent) and continued to grow significantly (5.28 percent yoy) in 2013. This consumer force is one of the main reasons why many foreign companies enter and expand their businesses in Indonesia.

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Indonesia's October inflation rate was well-received by investors. On Friday (01/11), Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that the country's inflation in October 2013 grew 0.09 percent. Easing inflation was mainly due to falling prices of raw foods and clothes. Year-on-year (yoy), however, Indonesia's inflation is still high at 8.32 percent, although showing a moderating trend from 8.40 percent (yoy) in September 2013 and 8.79 percent (yoy) in August 2013. Inflation had skyrocketed after subsidized fuel prices were raised by an average 33 percent in June.

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Indonesia's central bank, Bank Indonesia, expects deflation of about 0.9 percent in September 2013. Statistics Indonesia, on the other hand, believes there will be limited inflation this month. Both institutions agree, however, on a forecast of at least 9 percent of inflation over full-year 2013. The bank's September forecast is based on a survey that was conducted in the second week of September. This survey showed that food commodities and government administered prices eased.

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The slowing pace of investments has made the Indonesian government decide to revise down its forecast for economic growth in the second quarter of 2013. Minister of Finance, M. Chatib Basri, believes that GDP growth will not exceed the six percent threshold in Q2-2013. He explained that there are a number of factors that refrain the government from setting a higher growth assumption. These factors include ailing exports, non-optimal government spending, and diminishing gross fixed capital investment.

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