PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s inflation increased to 1.9% in August 2026 from 1.8% in the previous month, driven by higher transport, housing and food costs.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), in a statement, said the consumer price index (CPI) rose to 137.5 from 134.9 in August 2025.
Transport inflation accelerated to 2% from 1.4% in July, mainly due to increases in public transport services and the operation of personal transport equipment.
The average price of RON97 petrol rose to RM4.28 per litre in August from RM4.07 in July, while the market price of diesel increased to RM4.60 from RM4.14 per litre. The average market price of RON95 rose to RM3.75 from RM3.47 per litre.
DOSM said food and beverages, which account for 29.8% of the CPI weight, recorded a 1.9% increase compared with 1.8% in July.
It noted that food at home inflation accelerated to 1.4% from 1.2%, while food away from home remained at 2.5%.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels inflation rose to 2.1% from 1.8% in July, partly due to higher electricity, gas and fuel costs.
The electricity, gas and other fuel subgroup increased 3.3%, compared with 2% in July, following a revision to the Automatic Fuel Adjustment rate for domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia consuming more than 600 kilowatt hours.
Meanwhile, personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services inflation increased to 3.2% from 2.9%, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose 2.8%.
Nine states recorded inflation above the national rate, led by Negeri Sembilan at 2.5%. Johor, Kedah, Pahang and Labuan each recorded inflation of 2.3%, while Selangor and Kuala Lumpur registered 2.1%.
On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation increased 0.3% in August after remaining unchanged in July, led by a 0.6% rise in transport prices.
