Private consumption seen slowing in 2019

Tax impact: Fitch Solutions expects private consumption to slow in 2019 to 5.3 due to the reinstatement of the SST. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Populist policies introduced by the government, along with an expanding economy and low levels of inflation and unemployment, have boosted consumer spending in 2018.

Fitch Solutions Macro Research said high frequency indicators also pointed to the health of the Malaysian consumers, with consumer confidence and retail sales picking up since the beginning of 2018.