KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's inflation slowed to 1.5% in February 2025, its lowest in 13 months, amid milder price increases in several key segments over the preceding month.
The increase in the consumer price index (CPI), which is measure of price changes paid by consumers for goods and services, was in line with the median expectations of economists surveyed by Reuters.
Compared to other countries in the region, Malaysia's inflation of 1.5% in February was lower than that of Vietnam (2.9%) and the Philippines (2.1%), but was higher than that of Thailand (1.1%), Indonesia (-0.1%) and China (-0.7%).
The National Statistics Department reported that the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels segment rose at a slower pace of 2.3% during the month, as compared to 2.8% previously.
Similarly, there were slower increases in the cost of recreation, sport and culture (1.5%), health (1%), transport (0.7%) and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (0.3%).
However, price growth was accelerated in personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services (rising to 3.7% from 3.3% in January); education (1.9% as compared to 1.6% in January); and insurance and financial services (jumping to 1.5% from 0.6% in January).
The food and beverages group, which contributes 29.8% of the total CPI weight, maintained its rate of increase over the preceding month at 2.5%.
Restaurant and accommodation services rose at a steady rate of 3.5%, while cost increases for information and communication decreased to negative-5.3% in February, on a par with January.
