Cautious spending likely in 2H

Williams expects inflation to come out broadly at or below 2%.

PETALING JAYA: The inflation rate, which hit a 51-month low of 1.2% last month, will certainly raise the question of whether the time is ripe for the central bank to cut interest rates in the near future.

However, it is also important to consider if lower inflation rates might continue into the rest of the year, particularly as the expanded sales and service tax (SST) takes effect next month.