REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia on Friday reported a larger-than-expected trade surplus and a further slowing in inflation, brightening the picture for Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

The data came ahead of a report on Monday expected to show the economy grew an annual 5.60 percent in the first quarter, according to a Reuters poll, a touch slower than 5.72 percent in the prior quarter but within the central bank's target of 5.5-5.9 percent this year. The upbeat results suggest the economy began the year on a steady footing, after growth hit a four-year low in 2013 on a slowdown in exports and consumption.

"We are looking for a firt quarter real GDP growth print of around 5.6 percent (year-on-year), driven by a combination of weak investment growth but resilient private consumption spending, thanks to pre-election spending," Credit Suisse said in a research note.

Indonesia had a trade surplus of 670 million USD in March, the statistics office said, more than the 500 million USD surplus expected by analysts though narrowing from 840 million USD in February.