Reuters - Indonesia's deputy central bank governor said consumer price inflation likely eased further in March, as the distribution of goods improved and the impact of a fuel price hike dissipated.

Annual March inflation was seen at 7.3 percent, with prices rising 0.1 percent on a monthly basis, Deputy Governor Perry Warjiyo told reporters on Friday.

For February, Southeast Asia's biggest economy reported 7.75 percent inflation on declining food prices, but core inflation quickened due to prices of gold and processed foods.

Warjiyo said Bank Indonesia would closely monitor the progress of the country's balance of payments and the situation in the global economy, particularly in the United States and China, in reviewing its key reference rate.

The central bank kept its benchmark rate at 7.5 percent at its meeting in March as inflationary pressures were manageable and on a stronger exchange rate.

The statistics bureau will release inflation and trade data on April 1.