Indonesia’s economic growth in the second quarter of 2013 dived below six percent, the first time since the third quarter of 2010, according to Government statistics released on August 2.

The figure illustrates the challenges facing the country’s policymakers to maintain growth while battling a surge in inflation sparked by a fuel price hike and stopping recent steep falls in the rupiah.

Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the period reached only 5.81 percent, lower than economists’ expectations.

The country’s trade deficit rose to 850 million USD in June from May’s figure of 590 million USD.

The falling demand for exports and investment in a sluggish global economic recovery was attributed to the country’s plummeting growth, especially when China, a world leading fuel consumer, has reduced its demand.-VNA