August 19, 2026 | 03:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bank Indonesia has held its benchmark interest rate, or BI Rate, at 5.75 percent. The decision was based on the results of the Bank Indonesia Board of Governors' Monthly Meeting held on August 18–19, 2026. "We have decided to maintain the BI Rate at 5.75 percent," Acting Bank Indonesia Governor Destry Damayanti said during an online press conference on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
BI also maintained the deposit facility interest rate at 4.75 percent and the lending facility interest rate at 6.5 percent.
The central bank’s decision follows the outcomes of its monthly board meetings in May, June, and July 2026. During those sessions, keeping interest rates steady formed part of Bank Indonesia's policy mix to strengthen rupiah exchange rate stability amid high uncertainty and global volatility. Furthermore, the decision aims to keep inflation anchored near 2.5 percent for this year and 2027.
According to Destry, the stance is a consistent step by the central bank to reinforce rupiah stability against global turmoil, particularly in the Middle East. Moreover, holding rates steady represents an effort to maintain inflation throughout 2026–2027 within the government-set target range of 2.5 percent plus or minus 1 percent.
Ahead of BI's announcement, the Institute for Economic and Social Research at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Economics and Business (LPEM UI) had predicted the central bank's move. LPEM UI argued that the central bank should hold the benchmark interest rate at 5.75 percent to preserve room for future rate adjustments.
"Bank Indonesia is expected to maintain the BI Rate," LPEM UI researcher Teuku Riefky said in a written statement on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Riefky pointed out that annual inflation in July 2026 slowed to 2.88 percent from 3.34 percent the previous month. This deceleration primarily reflected a sharp cooling in volatile price inflation, though the food, beverage, and tobacco group remained the primary driver of annual headline figures.
"However, inflationary pressures are expected to increase in the coming months as the El Niño phenomenon and the dry season peak in August and September 2026," he said.
On the external front, Teuku noted, the Fed held its target rate between 3.50 percent and 3.75 percent at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in late July. However, that decision was marked by dissent from three of the 12 FOMC members who favored raising the Fed's benchmark rate by 25 basis points due to concerns over persistent inflation.
Domestically, Teuku observed that the financial sector experienced brief turmoil following the sudden resignation of Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, announced on July 27. According to Teuku, the news initially weighed on Indonesian financial assets, pressuring the rupiah exchange rate and dragging down the stock market.
Despite this, Teuku noted, the market reaction remained relatively muted and did not trigger capital flight or sustained pressure on the financial sector. "This was supported by assurances of policy continuity under Acting Governor Destry Damayanti, as well as investor attention to the transition process and the absence of sudden changes to Bank Indonesia's overall policy framework," Teuku said.
Read: Indonesia 2027 State Budget: Growth, Spending, and Revenue Targets
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