BPS Reported To The United Nations: Anomaly Data Can Have A Big Impact On The Community

JAKARTA The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) was reported to two institutions under the United Nations (UN) because the published growth figures did not match the reality on the ground. The data has the potential to harm the public.

It is a research institute based in Jakarta, the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), which sent a letter to the Unites Nations Statistic Division (UNDS) and the United Nations Statistical Commission on Friday (8/8/2025).

Surat dari lembaga riset yang fokus dengan isu ekonomi itu, terkait permintaan untuk mengaudit data pertumbuhan ekonomi kuartal II 2025 yang dirilis Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) pada Selasa (5/8/2025). CelIOS menilai data pertumbuhan ekonomi yang dirilis oleh BPS menimbulkan adanya perbedatan dengan kondisi real perekonomian Indonesia.

"The letter sent to the United Nations contains a request to review economic growth data in the third quarter of 2025 which amounted to 5.12 percentyear-on-year (yoy)," said BELIOS Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira, in an official statement.

Meanwhile, CELIOS Media Fiscal Policy Director Wahyudi Askar said, as a government institution that is subject to international statistical standards, BPS should be free from political interests, transparent, and maintain data integrity.

Therefore, CelIOS hopes that UNSD and UN Statistical Commission will immediately conduct a technical investigation into Indonesia's GDP calculation method, especially the second quarter of 2025.

In early August, BPS released data stating Indonesia's economic growth during April-June was 5.12 percent. This figure is an increase compared to the previous quarter which was 4.87 percent.

CelIOS recorded a number of irregularities in the BPS report regarding national economic growth in the second quarter. One of the anomalies highlighted by this research institution is that there are no moments that can be a catalyst for economic growth during April-July.

Historically, according to CelIOS data, the highest economic growth occurred in the quarter which coincided with Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, which this year fell in the January-March 2025 period. At that moment economic growth was boosted by increased household consumption thanks to holiday allowances or THR.

CelIOS suspects that the possibility of inconsistency and inaccuracy of gross domestic income data (GDP) claimed by BPS grew 5.12 percent in the second quarter of 2025.

Bhima Yudhistira urged BPS to explain the methodology and indicators they used. This needs to be done so that investor confidence, both at home and abroad, does not plummet.

Through a letter sent, CelIOS asked the two statistical bodies under the United Nations to audit the economic growth data for the second quarter of 2025 released by BPS. The request, according to Bhima Yudhistira, is important to maintain the credibility of BPS data that is often used by entrepreneurs, researchers, and the public in general.

"PBB should come and check, meet BPS and the government to investigate. We hope that BPS will be transparent," Bhima told VOI.

Anomalies in BPS economic growth data, said Bhima Yudhistira, can have a big impact, especially on the community. Direct effects for the community can be in the form of cutting social assistance (bansos) and energy subsidies, such as fuel oil or LPG gas.

"If the government uses inaccurate BPS data, economic growth is well perceived. Social assistance is reduced on the grounds that the economy is strengthening even though there are still many middle and poor people who need government assistance," said Bhima.

Another impact of inaccurate economic growth data is the potential continuation of budget efficiency and the risk of weakening the regional economy.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can also become victims as a result of the data incorrectly predicting. The confidence of business actors in BPS data can encourage them to expand by applying for loans to purchase excess raw materials and new machines, even though the facts on the ground are weak demand.

"As a result, it can fail to pay or bad credit," he added.

In the long term, the data anomaly is considered to affect investor confidence in the investment climate in Indonesia.

"This [BPS data] is related to our debt rating. Economic and industrial growth is one of the considerations for debt rating. If there is data that must be revised, it will have a heavy impact," explained Bhima.

The middle class economic group has again become a depressed group with 5.12 percent economic growth. They are perceived as being able to bear a greater tax burden.

"The government assumes that the community must now be encouraged by compliance and increase taxes. In the end, this will create a wrong perception. In fact, the community must now be given tax breaks," he said.

The Asian Development Bank in April stated that the middle class was the backbone of the Indonesian economy, but the number has continued to decline since 2019. The Central Statistics Agency noted that the middle class reached 57.33 million in 2019, but fell to 47.85 million in 2024.