Indonesian consumers turn pessimistic on economy in Sept: BI

[JAKARTA] Indonesian consumers turned pessimistic in September for the first time since August 2010, according to an index released Friday by the country's central bank.

Bank Indonesia's consumer confidence index plunged to 97.5 in September, the lowest since February 2009, from 112.6 in August.

August 2010 was the latest time there was a reading below 100, which shows consumers are pessimistic about the economy.

The survey found consumers in Southeast Asia's largest economy expected food prices to increase in December despite the central bank's prediction that annual inflation rate would slow to around 4 per cent by then from September's 6.83 per cent.

Bank Indonesia did not immediately release the monthly report that explains survey results.

REUTERS