Pricier coconuts, cheaper rice

PETALING JAYA: The average price of grated coconut went up by 37.9% last year, the biggest increase in a list of 125 food items and other daily necessities tracked by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

According to DOSM’s figures, the average price for one kg of grated coconut rose by RM3.16, from RM8.33 in 2024 to RM11.49 in 2025.

Fresh coconut milk ranked second with a 33.10% increase, followed by lemons at 19.86%, Barramundi (Ikan Siakap) at 9.75%, and red apples at 7.24%.

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The figures were listed in a DOSM report, “Analysis of Annual Consumer Price Index, Malaysia, 2025”.

According to the report, which was released on April 29 this year, Malaysia’s overall inflation eased to 1.4% last year, compared to 1.8% in 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some items in the report saw a fall in average prices.

The biggest drop was for local white rice, better known as Super Special Tempatan 5% rice (SST 5%), which recorded an 18.9% reduction.

The average price for a 10kg bag of SST 5% rice went down by RM6.89, from RM36.50 in 2024 to RM29.61 last year.

Bird’s eye chilli was second with a 7.6% drop, followed by Grade C hen’s eggs (-6.9%), seedless watermelons (-6.7%), and Grade B hen’s eggs (-5.6%).

Several items, including beef and large onions, were excluded from The Star's analysis as these items had material specification, unit, or sourcing changes between the 2024 and 2025 DOSM publications.

Meanwhile, dental extraction saw the biggest increase in average price among 15 items in the list placed under the “Goods and Services” category.

The price for tooth extraction went up by 4.6% or RM4.10, from RM89.42 in 2024 to RM93.52.

Second were men’s haircuts, with a 3.1% rise, from RM14.97 to RM15.44.