PETALING JAYA: Prices of many goods and services with foreign content, ranging from imported milk powder to an overseas university education, will go up with a falling ringgit.
But economists say any sharp hike will only occur if the value of the ringgit were to plummet suddenly, something that has not happened with the current depreciation, which has been gradual over the months.
Independent economist Lee Heng Guie said parents of children studying overseas were among those feeling an immediate pinch.
“When currencies – not just the US dollar but the British pound – get more expensive, parents will be anxious about how long the ringgit will stay weak.
“They will be thinking about whether to buy the foreign currency now or wait, or send their kids to another country where the currency is not so expensive.”
High-income earners who use a lot of imported goods will see their spending rise the most, but Lee said most Malaysians would end up paying a bit more.
For necessities such as milk powder and other daily products where there is imported content, prices will rise eventually if the importer cannot absorb the impact of the falling ringgit.
“Malaysians are still adjusting to the rising cost of living due to the Goods and Services Tax, so if the ringgit continues to weaken, consumers will definitely be affected,” said Lee.
Malaysia University of Science and Technology (Must) School of Business Dean Dr Yeah Kim Leng said imported goods bought over the Internet from online shopping portals will immediately be more expensive, but price increases of foreign products sold at local retailers should be more gradual.
“Online overseas purchases will reflect immediately the prevailing exchange rate while those involving supply chains of stockists and wholesalers will see a delayed pass-through until stocks are replenished with the new imported price,” said Dr Yeah.
Dr Yeah advised consumers to postpone buying imported goods where possible or to buy from countries whose currency exchanges were more favourable to the ringgit, unlike the US dollar.
“We also need to spend more locally to help the domestic economy,” said Dr Yeah.
Another economist said importers usually bought several months’ worth of stocks at locked-in prices, so any rise in retail prices should not be immediate.
Current low oil prices can also help offset some of the rising costs for local manufacturers of goods with imported raw materials.
He said the current scenario could not be compared to 1997 when a regional downturn, capital controls and political upheaval created many uncertainties.
“What’s happening now is not due to economic or political chaos, but an expectation of a US interest rate hike, a reversal of funds from Asia, and China de-valuing its currency.”
On a positive note, he added that a weaker ringgit could boost the country’s tourism and lift sectors such as retail and hotels.
Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations president Datuk N. Marimuthu said with Malaysia’s import bill at RM40bil last year, a rise in the prices of many imported goods was likely.
“Consumers need to spend wisely and be wary of profiteering by retailers,” he said.
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