KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by 2% in August from a year ago, but the increase was below Reuters’ poll of a 2.2% rise.
The CPI rose to 122.5 from 120.1 a year ago, making it the seventh consecutive month of increase since February 2021 due to the base effect last year.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the transport group continued to record a double-digit increase since March and edged up by 11% in August from a year ago.
The food & non-alcoholic beverages was up by 1.2% in August 2021 compared with 1.3% a year ago. The index for food away from home increased by 1% and cooked beef, burger and satay were among the food that recorded increases in this subgroup.
“Housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels registered a marginal increase of 0.6%,” he said.
Mohd Uzir said the CPI for January to August 2021 increased by 2.3% as compared to the same period last year.
On a monthly basis, CPI remained unchanged as compared to July 2021.
The food & non-alcoholic beverages and housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels groups increased by 0.1% but it was offset by the decline in transport (-0.1%) and education (-0.1%).
“The setting of maximum retail prices for pure palm cooking oil in bottled packaging by the government effective Aug 1, 2021 has slightly eased the inflation of subgroup oils & fats to negative 0.4% from 0.2% in July 2021.
Mohd Uzir Mahidin also said core index rose 0.6% in August 2021 from a year ago. Core index covers all goods and services except volatile items of fresh food as well as administered prices.
The CPI without fuel increased by 0.5% in August 2021 to 113.2 as compared to 112.6 in the same month of the preceding year. CPI without fuel covers all goods and services except unleaded petrol RON95, unleaded petrol RON97 and diesel.
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