February inflation up 1.4%, Melaka records highest increase

February CPI was also affected by the drop in the transport group as fuel prices slipped.

KUALA LUMPUR: The inflation rate in February rose at a slower pace of 1.4% from a year ago, which was much better than a Bloomberg survey of a 1.9% increase.

The Statistics Department said on Wednesday the consumer price index (CPI)  was impacted by a slower increase in the food and non-alcoholic beverages and a sharp decline in transport costs as fuel prices fell.

The CPI also increased at a slower pace compared with January, which registered a 2.7% increase on-year.

Its chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the overall index was also affected by the drop in the transport group by 0.3% in February. Other groups which also showed decreases were clothing and footwear (-0.7%) and communication (-0.5%).

Among the main groups, the increases were food and non-alcoholic beverages index (+3%), furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance (+2.1%); health (+2.1%); housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+2%) and restaurants & hotels (+1.8%).

The CPI for January-February 2018 recorded an increase of 2% compared with the previous corresponding period.

The department said four states surpassed the national CPI rate of 1.4% in February with  Melaka recording a 1.8% increase, Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya (+1.7%), Johor (+1.5%) and Sabah & Labuan (+1.5%).

The department said the index for food & non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.2% in Kuala Lumpur, 3.9% in Sabah & Labuan, 3.6% in Johor, 3.2% in Pulau Pinang,  3.1% in Sarawak and 3.1% in Melaka.