Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Mirza Adityaswara said the 0.02 percent deflation in April announced by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) was in line with expectation of the central bank.

"Deflation has been predicted with the harvest time," Mirza said here on Friday.

Mirza said in the past four months only in January inflation was higher than expected , adding in February, March and April , inflation were almost in line with expectation.

"Inflation in the whole of this year is estimated to be around 5 percent," he said.

In the first four months inflation was 1.39 percent and year-on-year, the countrys inflation in April was 7.25 percent.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Anny Ratnawati said she was optimistic inflation could be controlled as set in the state budget at 5.5 percent this year that the purchasing power of the people would not be affected.

Anny said the deflation of 0.02 percent in April was thanks to sufficient food supply and price stability.

However, she cautioned the people against coming dry season after long rainy days.

She also warned against the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Mirza also warned of El Nino "but hopefully it is a weak El Nino."

Anny said season and weather factors would be significant for the availability of food on the domestic market.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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