BPS deputy head of distribution and service statistics Sasmito Hadi Wibowo said the August deflation was the lowest monthly figure the agency had seen in the past 15 years. On a year-to-date basis, the BPS reported 1.74 percent inflation while the year-on-year (yoy) inflation was 2.79 percent.

"This deflation is the lowest since August 2001 at 0.21 percent. Meanwhile, the year-on-year inflation is the lowest since 2009, which stood at 2.78 percent," he said in a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

The agency recorded August's core inflation at 0.36 percent mm and 3.34 percent yoy, the lowest since 2009. "In general, this is due to the persistently low global commodity prices, which affected all commodity prices," Sasmito said.

He added the month's deflation was mostly driven by deflation in transportation costs at -1.02 percent and -0.68 percent in staple food prices. "After Idul Fitri in July, staple food prices and transportation were drastically low in August," Sasmito said.

On the opposite end, education, recreation and sports posted the highest inflation in August, at 1.18 percent. (ags)

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