Consumer price index up 0.27 percent in August<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's consumer price index (CPI) increased
\n0.27 percent in August, compared with 0.68 percent in July,
\nMinister of Information Harmoko announced yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a limited cabinet meeting on the economy,
\nHarmoko said that food prices fell by an average of 0.35 percent
\nbut that housing prices in the same month rose 0.27 percent,
\nclothing prices 0.16 percent and other goods and services were up
\n1.16 percent.<\/p>\n
August's CPI brought the cumulative inflation rate for the
\nJanuary to August period to 4.98 percent, down from 6.41 percent
\nduring the same period of last year.<\/p>\n
Harmoko quoted President Soeharto as saying during the meeting
\nthat the low inflation was due to an abundant supply of primary
\ngoods.<\/p>\n
"The President has also instructed the ministers concerned to
\nprepare the necessities of the general public ahead of the
\nChristmas holiday in December, and the New Year and Idul Fitri
\nholidays in January and February next year," he said.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said that money supply as of July this year reached Rp
\n57.7 trillion (US$24.99 billion).<\/p>\n
On international trade, Harmoko said that the country's
\nexports rose slightly to $4.14 billion in June from $4.07 billion
\nin May, while imports increased to $3.95 billion from $3.8
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
As a result, Indonesia's trade surplus in June dropped to
\n$193.4 million in June from $203.1 million in May.<\/p>\n
During the period of January to June this year, total exports
\nreached $23.49 billion, while total imports amounted to $21.20
\nbillion, for a six-month trade surplus of $2.29 billion.<\/p>\n
He said that of the top ten export products, textiles remained
\non top during the January-May period and recorded an increase of
\n8.24 percent from $2.27 billion during the same period of last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia saw tourist numbers increase 20.7
\npercent to 2.37 million during the January-July period of this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
In July alone, the country's foreign exchange revenues from
\nthe tourism sector reached $462.83 million.<\/p>\n
During the January-July period, the country's revenues from
\nforeign tourists reached $2.83 billion, up 22.2 percent from the
\nsame period last year.<\/p>\n
In the area of cement products, he said the supply during the
\nJuly to September period would be enough to meet local demand.
\nCement stocks at the end of this month are expected to reach
\n306.317 tons.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that cement prices are increasing in Central
\nand East Java. "The price increases are being caused by a sudden
\nsurge in local demand over the last few days, which has caused
\nsupply shortages at market places. But efforts are being made to
\ntackle the problem," he said. (13)<\/p>",
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