KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s inflation increased to 1.9% in August 2026 from 1.8% in the previous month, with the Consumer Price Index rising to 137.5 points in July from 134.9 a year earlier, according to the Statistics Department (DOSM).
It said the transport group drove the increase, rising 2% compared to 1.4% in July 2026.
Inflation in personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services rose 3.2% in August compared to 2.9% in July.
“The food and beverages group increased 1.9% in August, compared to 1.8% in July; while the health group increased 1.3% compared to 1.1% in the previous month,” it said in a statement.
In addition, the furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance increased by a marginal 0.4% in August, compared to 0.3% in July.
DOSM said nine states recorded increases above the national inflation level of 1.9%, namely Negri Sembilan (2.5%); Johor, Kedah, Pahang and Labuan (all 2.3%); Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (2.1%); Melaka and Putrajaya (2%).
“All states registered an increase in food and beverages inflation, except Kelantan, which recorded a decrease in August 2026,” it added, Bernama reported.
On a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation in August 2026 increased by a marginal 0.3%, driven by transport inflation that registered 0.6% compared to -1.1% in the previous month.
This was followed by personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services, which increased 0.5%, it said.
Both groups of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, as well as restaurant and accommodation services, climbed to 0.4% compared to 0.1% and 0.2% in the previous month, respectively.
Food and beverages moderated to 0.2% in August compared to 0.3% in July.
