Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the cost materials of building index (BCI) without steel bars and with steel bars for all building category in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak had increased.
KUALA LUMPUR: Economic recovery remains in sight with a better trend as signalled by Malaysia’s macroeconomic performance in April 2022 amid global uncertainty, says the Statistics Department.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said more than two years after an unprecedented global health crisis that profoundly altered the world’s socioeconomic landscape, nations had started the recovery process with extensive exit strategy activities to boost economic viability and public health, Bernama reported.
“While the public had started to adjust to endemicity, a new threat comes in the form of supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine; uncertain weather conditions; and escalating demand following the easing of health restrictions in most countries,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Noting on Malaysia’s macroeconomic performance in April 2022, he said Malaysia is blessed with natural resources and commodities such as petroleum products and palm oil.
“As a net commodity exporter, this country also benefits from higher commodity prices resulting in Malaysia’s total trade chalking up a double-digit annual growth of 21.3% to RM231.4bil,” he said.
Exports rose 20.7% to RM127.5bil while imports went up 22% to RM103.9bil.
The trade balance rose 15.7% and continued to remain in surplus at RM23.5bil.
Malaysia’s trade performance in May 2022 remained resilient, recording the fastest growth since November 2021, with total trade surpassing RM1 trillion, he said.
Mohd Uzir said going forward, Malaysia is expected to maintain a better economic recovery in the upcoming months.
“The Leading Index for April recorded 110.8 points with an improved negative growth of 0.5% year-on-year compared to negative 1.4% in March 2022.
“It is hoped that the economic recovery remains in sight with a better trend amid global uncertainty,” he said.
He said in line with this, the S&P Global Ratings recently revised Malaysia’s long-term sovereign credit ratings outlook to “stable” from “negative” as it believes Malaysia is on a strong economic recovery path compared to other countries at similar income levels.
