Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported that household consumption's positive performance had contributed to Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019 at 5.07 percent.

"Household consumption expenditure recorded a positive growth, chiefly in health and education spending, as well as in the area of food and beverage, apart from restaurants," Suhariyanto, the BPS chairman, noted here on Monday.

Household consumption growth in Q1 of 2019 was recorded at 5.01 percent, or increasing from 4.94 percent in Q1 of 2018 and Q1 of 2017 respectively.

Retail sales posted an 8.1 percent growth, especially from food and beverage as well as household equipment, being the contributors to domestic consumption.

Electricity sales by state utility company PT PLN to households recorded a growth of 7.24 percent, while e-money transactions, credit cards, and debit cards grew 14.56 percent.

A 5.21 percent growth in government consumption expenditure also contributed to economic growth in Q1 2019 owing to increased spending for goods, services, and personnel.

Suhariyanto noted that in Q1 of 2017 and 2018, government consumption expenditures were respectively recorded at 2.69 percent and 2.71 percent.

The realization of government spending in Q1 2019 had reached Rp452.06 trillion, rising from Rp419.55 trillion.

The country's exports posted a negative growth of 2.08 percent in Q1 of 2019 following a 1.7 percent drop in the exports of goods and service exports growing negatively at 5.25 percent, he added. EDITED BY INE


Reporter: Satyagraha, Fardah
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2019