The Indonesian rupiah traded around IDR 16,850 per dollar on Tuesday afternoon, pulling back after briefly touching IDR 16,800 in the previous session. This came even as the US dollar index retreated from a three-month peak amid hopes for an easing of tensions in the Middle East.
Domestic developments weighed on sentiment. Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves fell to their lowest level in three months in February, while consumer confidence declined after hitting a one-year high in January, highlighting mounting cost pressures ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Headline inflation quickened to 4.76% in February, its fastest pace in nearly three years and above Bank Indonesia’s target range, driven largely by base effects.
Still, Governor Perry Warjiyo indicated that inflation is expected to remain manageable in 2026–2027, suggesting scope for further monetary easing following 150 basis points of rate cuts since September 2024, even as maintaining rupiah stability remains the central bank’s key priority.
