Indonesia's shrinkflation belies government's 'strong' fundamentals claim

Economists highlight growing gap between officials' rhetoric and economic reality

Indonesian students burn mock banknotes during a protest in Semarang, Central Java, on June 5 in a protest against the weakening of the rupiah, which repeatedly hit new record lows against the dollar in recent weeks. © Getty Images

JAKARTA -- The prices they are paying may have barely gone up, but regular customers of street food stalls in Indonesia have noticed that their favorite dishes like fermented soybeans and chicken have become smaller and the sambal chili paste less spicy.