KL reports highest inflation rate in October

KUALA LUMPUR: The inflation rate in October rose 0.6% from a year ago due to higher price for housing and food but Kuala Lumpur exceeded the national rate to increase by 1.3%.

The Statistics Department said on Friday the inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased in line with the forecasts of 0.6%.

The other states which recorded higher Consumer Price Index (CPI) were Negeri Sembilan (+1.1%), Selangor and Putrajaya (+0.8%) and the state of Penang (+0.7%).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said: “CPI increased 0.6% cent in October 2018 to 120.7 compared to 120.0 a year ago.”

He said the increase in the overall index was due to higher price for housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+2.1%); food & non-alcoholic beverages (+1.2%);  restaurants & hotels (+1.2%); education (+1.1%) and transport (+0.8%).”

“On a monthly basis, CPI increased by 0.2% as compared to September 2018,” it said. 

For the January-October 2018, it increased by 1.1% from the previous corresponding period.

Meanwhile, the higher increase in the index for food & non-alcoholic beverages was reflected in most states in Malaysia. 

Three states recorded higher increases for food & non-alcoholic beverages index above the national index level  (+1.2%) in October from a year ago.

The index for food & non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.5% in Kuala Lumpur, followed by Negeri Sembilan (+1.6%), Selangor and Putrajaya (+1.4%)  while Penang island showed the same rate as the national CPI of this main group.