Malaysia’s CPI up 1.4% in April

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s consumer price index (CPI) measuring headline inflation rose a lower than expected 1.4% in April 2018 compared to a year ago.

Economists had expected a 1.6% rise in the CPI, which includes volatile food and fuel prices. Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel, rose 1.5%.

On a monthly basis, CPI remained unchanged at 120.9 as compared to March 2018. CPI for the period January-April 2018 registered an increase of 1.7% as compared to the same period last year.

Statistics Department data showed that the major groups which recorded increases were the indices for food & non-alcoholic beverages (+2.6%), restaurants & hotels (+2.2% ), health (+2.1%), housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+2.0%), furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance (+1.8%) and education (+1.1%).

In terms of overall CPI, three states surpassed the national CPI rate of 1.4% recorded in April 2018 as compared to April 2017. The states were Kuala Lumpur (+1.9%), Selangor & Putrajaya (+1.6%) and Pulau Pinang (+1.5%).