Indonesia's inflation eased unexpectedly in May as food price pressure eased, data from Statistics Indonesia showed Monday.
Annual inflation slowed to 5.47 percent from 5.57 percent in April. Inflation fell into the target range of 3.5 percent to 5.5 percent. Economists had forecast it to rise to 5.6 percent in May.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.03 percent in May. Excluding food and administered goods prices, core inflation dropped to 3.99 percent from 4.12 percent in April.
The central bank has kept its record low interest rate for the fifteenth consecutive time as policymakers were wary of inflationary pressures from the proposed plan to cut fuel subsidies.
The current interest rate is 5.75 percent. The next policy meeting will be held on June 13.
In a separate report, it said exports declined 9.1 percent annually in April, while imports dropped 3.68 percent. The trade balance resulted in a deficit of $1.61 billion. Month-on-month, exports slipped 2.18 percent and imports grew 9.59 percent in April.
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