Bank Indonesia Pauses Interest Rate at 6.00%

Indonesia's central bank, Bank Indonesia, held the BI reference rate unchanged at 6.00%.  Bank Indonesia Governor, Darmin Nasution, said: "This decision is based on overall assessment on recent economic condition, risk factors, and economic prospects. Board of Governors views that current BI Rate is still consistent with inflation targets, and remains conducive for financial stability and mitigating the impacts of worsening global economic outlook on Indonesian economy. The assessment on economic condition and outlook show that domestic economy remains strong and stable."

Previously the Bank cut the interest rate by 50 basis points at its November meeting, and also cut the key monetary policy rate (the BI Rate) by 25 basis points to 6.50% at its October meeting.  Previously the Bank raised the BI rate by 25 basis points to the current 6.75% in February 2011.  Indonesia reported annual inflation of 4.1% in November, down slightly from 4.61% in September, compared o 4.79% in August and July, 4.61% in June, 5.98% in May, 6.16% in April, and 6.65% in March, and just inside the inflation target of 5% +/-1% in 2011 (which changes to 4.5% +/-1% in 2012).  

Bank Governor Nasution previously said the Bank expects "inflation next year will be below 5%".  Bank Indonesia has previously forecast GDP growth of 6.3-6.8% in 2011 and 6.4-6.9% in 2012 for the Indonesian economy, meanwhile Indonesia reported annual GDP growth of 6.5% in the June quarter this year.  

The Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) has weakened by about 1% against the US dollar so far this year, and the USDIDR exchange rate last traded around 9045.

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