JAKARTA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Retail sales in Indonesia expanded 4.3 percent in May from a year earlier, which was primarily contributed by the purchase of foods, a survey by the central bank disclosed here Wednesday.
Retail sales in April grew 4.2 percent on yearly basis.
The sales of food items accelerated 9.7 percent in May from a year earlier compared with a-8.4 percent annual growth in April.
The survey of 700 retailers in 10 big cities projected sales growth to expand to 6.7 percent in June.
The retailers also expect prices to soften in August, but rise in the next six months.
They also forecast retail sales will ease in the next three months.
Inflation, linked with the people's purchasing power, accelerated 4.33 percent in May from a year earlier, according to the national statistics bureau.
Consumption accounts for more than half of Indonesia's gross domestic product.
