Inflation in Indonesia slowed in December, an official said Wednesday, with fuel subsidies keeping consumer prices tame throughout the year.

In an attempt to meet the country's expected industrial growth by the end of 2013, Indonesia's Industry Ministry has recommended that labor-intensive firms, including textile, garment and shoe manufacturers, be exempted from adopting a new minimum wage in the new year.

The number of Indonesians working abroad could decline in the coming years as minimum wages in various regions of the country rise, some labor activists and workers say.

Indonesia's central bank on Tuesday held its key interest rate at 5.75 percent for the 10th straight month as inflation remained in check in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Once a laggard in the region, Manila is rising to be one of Asia-Pacific's most appealing property markets amid escalating concerns over high property prices in China's core markets.

Despite the government's optimism that it would be able to attract 8 million tourists to the country by the end of 2012, a tourism industry group has said that Indonesia may not reach that target as travel agents were seeing a decrease in demand from European travelers during the year-end holiday.

Japan's economy shrank in the September quarter for the first time since last year, adding to signs that slowing global growth and tensions with China are nudging the world's third-largest economy into recession.

Indonesia said Monday that its economy grew 6.2 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, its slowest pace for two years due to a slowdown in major trade partner China.

The World Bank says Indonesia's economy will remain resilient against threats posed by stalling economic recovery in the U.S. and Europe, but warned policymakers in the country to monitor economic developments in China, the potential economic slowdown of which could have more “negative spill over” effects for the archipelago.

Indonesian miner Bumi PLC said Nathaniel Rothschild had resigned from its board, in the latest twist to the British tycoon's battle with the powerful Bakrie family for control of the firm.