Indonesia's annual retail sales picks up in March on purchase of food

Retail sales in Indonesia grew 4.2 percent in March from a year ago compared with 3.7 percent in February, a survey by the country's central bank disclosed here on Wednesday.

The sales growth in March was primarily contributed by the purchase of food items, which expanded 7.1 percent on year in the month from 5.1 percent in previous month, the bank said.

However, sales of non-food items only accelerated 0.3 percent in March on the yearly basis compared with 1.8 percent in February, it said.

The lender said the survey forecasts that annual retail sales will grow 5.4 percent in April, still primarily contributed by sales of food.

Consumer price index, linked with the people's purchasing power, accelerated 3.61 percent in March from a year earlier, according to the national statics bureau.

Consumption accounts for more than half of the country's gross domestic product. Endit