Indonesian banks are still loosening interest rates

Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo said that until the beginning of January 2017 there is still a little room to loosen its benchmark interest rate 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate. Space or opportunity that contrasts with forecasts of various analysts and economists that in 2017 the Central Bank will be difficult to lower the benchmark interest rate at 4.75 percent last detained.

According to Perry, the central bank will assess the potential reduction in the benchmark interest rate is allowed to do, because he recognized, domestic inflation pressures are on the rise, and also the uncertainty of the policy of US President elect Donald Trump is still shadowing the movements of financial markets.

"In terms of the attitude of the benchmark rate there is a little room, but must calibration with pressure from the government regulates the price of goods (adminsitered prices)," he said at the headquarters of Bank Indonesia, Jakarta, Friday (6/1).

Although there is space easing benchmark, Perry stressed for the next 12 months will be using the BI interest rate instrument for economic stabilization, rather than growth. This, he added, such as BI attitude is echoed repeatedly for 2017 ie a balanced monetary policy.

"For instruments interest rates, exchange rates, and surveillance (monitoring) it is to maintain stability," he said.

Meanwhile, to encourage economic growth in 2017, said Perry, BI will optimize the policy mix to ease liquidity, macroprudential policy and also the encouragement of payment systems, such as social assistance elektronifikasi.

Perry saw domestic economic conditions conducive so far. But Perry underlines that the monetary authorities will strengthen policy coordination with the government in anticipation of rising inflationary pressures from administered prices.

PT Pertamina (Persero) raise the price of fuel oil (BBM) common types of Pertamax Series, Pertalite and Dexlite Rp 300 per liter. Later, the government also implemented the first phase adjustment of electricity tariffs for 18.9 million customers 900 Volt Ampere (VA) in accordance with the plan of the removal of subsidies in the State Budget (APBN) in 2017.

"What must be strengthened is the coordination of government policies particularly related to the government regulated price of LPG gas rates, and more. Hopefully if food prices continue to controlled low, then the impact of adminsitered prices on overall inflation could be controlled," said Perry.

BI targeting inflation in 2017 was at 3-5 percent, after annual inflation in 2016 amounted to 3.02 percent (yoy).


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 Deputi Gubernur Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo mengatakan hingga awal Januari 2017 ini masih terdapat sedikit ruang untuk melonggarkan suku bunga acuan 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate. Ruang atau peluang itu berkebalikan dengan perkiraan berbagai analis dan ekonom bahwa pada 2017 Bank Sentral akan sulit menurunkan suku bunga acuan yang terakhir ditahan di 4,75 persen.

Menurut Perry, BI akan mengkaji potensi penurunan suku bunga acuan tersebut apakah memungkinkan untuk dilakukan, karena diakui dia, tekanan domestik dari inflasi sedang meningkat, dan juga ketidakpastian kebijakan Presiden Amerika Serikat terpilih Donald Trump masih membayangi pergerakan pasar keuangan.

"Jika dilihat dari sikap suku bunga acuan maka ada sedikit ruangan, tapi harus kalibarasi dengan tekanan dari kelompok harga barang yang diatur pemerintah (adminsitered prices)," ujar dia di kantor pusat BI, Jakarta, Jumat (6/1).

Meskipun ada ruang pelonggaran bunga acuan, Perry menekankan untuk 12 bulan ke depan BI akan lebih menggunakan instrumen suku bunga untuk stabilisasi ekonomi, ketimbang mendorong pertumbuhan. Hal tersebut, lanjut dia, seperti sikap BI yang didengungkan berulang-kali untuk 2017 yakni kebijakan moneter yang seimbang.

"Untuk instrumen suku bunga, nilai tukar, dan surveillance (pengawasan) itu lebih untuk menjaga stabilitas," kata dia.

Sedangkan untuk mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi di 2017, lanjut Perry, BI akan mengoptimalkan bauran kebijakan untuk melonggarkan likuiditas, kebijakan makroprudensial dan juga dorongan dari sistem pembayaran, seperti elektronifikasi bantuan sosial.

Perry melihat kondisi ekonomi domestik kondusif sejauh ini. Namun Perry menggarisbawahi bahwa otoritas moneter akan memperkuat koordinasi kebijakan dengan pemerintah untuk mengantisipasi kenaikan tekanan inflasi dari administered prices.

PT Pertamina (Persero) menaikkan harga bahan bakar minyak (BBM) umum jenis Pertamax Series, Pertalite dan Dexlite sebesar Rp 300 per liter. Kemudian, pemerintah juga menerapkan penyesuaian tarif listrik tahap pertama bagi 18,9 juta pelanggan 900 Volt Ampere (VA) sesuai dengan rencana pencabutan subsidi di Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara (APBN) 2017.

"Yang mesti diperkuat adalah koordinasi kebijakan pemerintah khususnya harga yang diatur pemerintah terkait tarif gas elpiji,dan lainnya. Harapannya kalau harga pangan terus terkendali rendah, maka dampak dari adminsitered prices terhadap inflasi keseluruhan bisa terkendali," ujar Perry. 

BI menargetkan inflasi pada 2017 berada di 3-5 persen, setelah pada 2016 inflasi tahunan sebesar 3,02 persen (yoy).