Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government and Bank Indonesia (BI) will continue coordination in keeping inflation from rising to exceed the target of 4.5 percent this year.

Last year, the countrys inflation was recorded at 8.38 percent exceeding the target of 7.2 percent set in the state budget.

The government attributed the high inflation to rise in the prices of subsidized oil fuels in mid last year, saying oil fuel price hike accounted for 3 percentage point of the inflation in 2013.

This year the government has no plan to raise the price of oil fuels, chief economics minister Hatta Rajasa has said.

On Thursday, Hatta said the government will prepare and improve distribution of food to keep the price stable.

"We are determined to keep inflation under control and this would be done through coordination with BI," he said here on Thursday.

He said inflation could affect the national economy, therefore, the government would seek to improve distribution of foodstuff.

"So far despite heavy rain and widespread flooding there was no report of food scarcity all over the country," he said.

Prices surged in some areas, but it is seasonal, he added.

He assured the people there would be no problem in supply of oil fuel, saying, state oil and gas company Pertamina has enough stock of subsidized and non subsidized oil fuels.

"There was no shortage in supply of subsidized oil fuels for which Pertamina has stock enough for 18 days. Stock of non subsidized oil fuels is even sufficient for 90 days," he said.

He said the government will hold an infrastructure meeting to discuss ways of overcoming damage to roads caused by heavy rain and flooding roads.

Month long downpour with flooding and landslides left the countrys highways and city roads with thousands of potholes that need immediate repairs.

In January, inflation was relatively high at 1.07 percent because of rain triggered flooding and landslides hampering distribution of foodstuff.

Floods have been reported in all major islands of the archipelago battering roads over the past month.

(SYS/H-ASG/H-YH)

Editor: Suryanto
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