KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s inflation rate in December rose at a slower pace of 0.2% from a year ago,  which was below a Bloomberg survey of a 0.3% increase,  acording to the Statistics Department.

However,  Kuala Lumpur had the highest inflation of a 1% increase from a year ago, Penang state 0.6% and Negeri Sembilan 0.4%. Selangor and Putrajaya recorded the same rate as the national Consumer Price Index (CPI), it said in a statement on Thursday.

The department said the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for the country rose 0.7% in December from a year ago.

However, three states recorded higher increases for food and non-alcoholic beverages index above the national index level.  The index rose 3.9% in KL, Penang state (+1%) and Negeri Sembilan (+0.8%). Selangor and Putrajaya recorded the same rate as the national index level.

Its chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the CPI increased by 0.2% in December 2018 to 121.1 from 120.9 a year ago.

“The increase in the overall index was due to higher price for housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+2%); restaurants & hotels (+1.3%), alcoholic beverages & tobacco (+1.1%), education (+1.1%) and food & non-alcoholic beverages (+0.7%),” he said.

“On a monthly basis, CPI increased by 0.1% as compared to November 2018. CPI for the period January-December 2018 registered an increase of 1% as compared to the same period last year.”