Malaysia's CPI rises 1.8% in March

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's inflation rose 1.8% in March 2024, unchanged from the previous month with the index points at 132.2 against 129.9 in March last year.

On a quarterly comparison, the country's consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.7% as compared to 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, core inflation increased slower at 1.7% as compared to 1.8% in February 2024.

"The increase was due to the Food & Beverages and Restaurant & Accommodation Services which both recorded increases of 3% respectively in March 2024," said the National Statistics Department in a statement.

According to the report, the segments that saw the highest increase were housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and restaurant and accommodation services.

"The increase of 3% (February 2024: 2.7%) for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was contributed by the expenditure class of water supply, which increased to 31.4% in March 2024 (February 2024: 28.8%)," it said.

There were also increases in personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (2.6%) and Transport (1.3%).

Offsetting the increase were segments that recorded a slow increase, namely healthy (2.1%), food and beverages (1.7%) and recreation, sport and culture (1.5%).