Economics
Indonesia’s Trade Surplus Larger Than Forecast as Imports Slump
- As consumer demand continues to wane, imports fall 42% in May
- Result may put pressure on central bank to cut interest rate
Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg
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Indonesia registered a far larger trade surplus than forecast in May, as a 42% decline in imports outweighed a larger-than-expected drop in exports.
The trade surplus was $2.1 billion, the statistics office said Monday, compared to the $629 million surplus forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Imports fell for an 11th straight month, underscoring concerns about the health of an economy that relies heavily on consumer spending.