JAKARTA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Indonesia's economy expanded 6.2

percent in 2012, slightly less than expected, backed by strong

domestic consumption and robust investment, the statistics

bureau said on Tuesday.

The rate was slower than 2011's 6.5 percent. Trimming the

pace was weak global demand, which caused exports to fall 6.6

percent from the previous year and produced the first-ever

annual trade deficit for Southeast Asia's largest economy.

A Reuters poll of 12 economists had forecast the rise in

full year gross domestic product (GDP) at 6.3 percent and growth

in the fourth quarter of 6.2 percent year-on-year. The

statistics bureau said the pace in the last quarter was 6.1

percent, down from the previous three months rate of 6.2

percent.

In the last three months of 2012, the economy contracted

1.45 percent quarter-on-quarter. In the poll, eight economists

saw a 1.3 percent contraction on a seasonally-unadjusted basis.

The Indonesian government has said that for 2013, it expects

the economy to expand between 6.6 percent and 6.8 percent.

While exports were weak in 2012, the year featured strong

purchasing power and robust economic activity, bolstered by low

interest rates, Indonesia's rich natural resources and its young

population.

For last year, Indonesia reported record foreign direct

investment of 221 trillion rupiah ($22.7 billion) - a 26 percent

rise from the previous year - mainly driven by the mining,

transportation and chemical sectors. Auto sales surged to more

than 1 million vehicles despite a higher downpayment requirement

for purchases.

Benign annual inflation in January of 4.57 percent and signs

of a recovery in global demand give the central bank room to

maintain its benchmark rate at 5.75 percent at a Feb. 12

meeting.

KEY DATA:

y/y q/q (nsa)

Q4 2012 6.1 -1.45

Q3 2012 6.2 3.2

Q2 2012 6.4 2.8

Q1 2012 6.3 1.4

Q4 2011 6.5 -1.3

Q3 2011 6.5 3.5

Q2 2011 6.5 2.9

Q1 2011 6.4 1.6

Q4 2010 6.9 -1.4

Q3 2010 5.8 3.5

Q2 2010 6.2 2.8

Q1 2010 5.7 1.9

Q4 2009 5.4 -2.4

Q3 2009 4.2 3.8

Q2 2009 4.1 2.4

Q1 2009 4.5 1.7

FULL-YEAR GROWTH:

2012 6.2

2011 6.5

2010 6.2

2009 4.6

2008 6.1

2007 6.3

2006 5.5

2005 5.7

* Some previous figures may change because of official

revision

* Quarter-to-quarter figures are not seasonally adjusted

CONTEXT

- Inflation in 2012 was a comfortable 4.32 percent as

government scrapped a plan to hike petrol price. January

inflation was 4.57 percent from a year ago, as adverse weather

condition caused distribution disruptions and pushing prices of

foodstuffs.

- Indonesia posted its first annual trade deficit in 2012,

at $1.63 billion, with reported a deficit for December of $150

million.

- The HSBC Markit purchasing managers' index for January

showed a contraction for manufacturing activity contracted for

the first time since May. The index was 49.7, compared with 50.7

in December and a record-high 51.5 in November.

- Bank Indonesia has maintained its benchmark rate at a

record low of 5.75 percent for 11 straight months to boost the

economy amid uncertain global conditions.

- Indonesia shoulders a heavy burden due to its fuel

subsidies, on which the government spent 211 trillion rupiah in

2012.

- Increased spending on imported fuel in 2012 added to the

currency account deficit, which the Bank Indonesia has estimated

was equivalent to 2.4 percent of GDP.

(Reporting by Rieka Rahadiana and Adriana Nina Kusuma; Editing

by Richard Borsuk and Neil Chatterjee)

Keywords: INDONESIA ECONOMY/GDP

(rieka.rahadiana@thomsonreuters.com)(+6221 3199 7170)(Reuters Messaging: rieka.rahadiana.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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