Malaysia: March inflation 1.3% higher

• Apr 19, 2018

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Consumer Price Index for March rose by 1.3% from a year ago, which was below a survey of a 1.6% increase, according to the Statistics Department.

However, Selangor and Putrajaya recorded higher inflation at 1.6%, Melaka 1.5% and Kuala Lumpur 1.4%.

Its chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the national increase in the CPI for March was due to food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.8%); furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (2.1%).

The health segment recorded a 2% rise; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (2%); restaurants and hotels (2.0%) and education (1.1%).

“Meanwhile, the CPI for January-March increased by 1.8% compared to the same period last year,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Uzir added that the overall index was also affected by the drop in the transport group by 1.5% last month.

Other groups which showed decreases were clothing and footwear (-0.7%) and communication (-0.7%).

The department said the higher increase in the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages was reflected in most states.

Four states recorded increases for food and non-alcoholic beverages index above the national index level (2.8%) in March compared to a year ago.

The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.1% in Kuala Lumpur, 3.4% in Sabah and Labuan, 3.4% in Johor and 3.1% in Penang.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2018/04/19/march-inflation-13-higher/#ZFwCO6hClOmU7g9E.99