Inflation up 3 pct
(Bernama) – Inflation in Malaysia rose three percent in April compared to the same month last year, the Statistics Department said Wednesday (20 May).
When compared to the previous month, it declined by 0.2 percent.
Meanwhile, from January to April this year, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3.5 percent, the department said in a statement here.
It said the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for April compared to the same month last year, showed a high percentage change of 7.5 percent, while that for non-food increased by 0.9 percent.
The department said the 3.5 percent rise in the CPI was brought about by increases observed in the indices of all the main groups, except transport, clothing and footwear as well as communication, which decreased by 2.1, 0.7 and 0.6 percent respectively.
Notable increases among the main groups with high weights were food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased 8.9 percent while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 1.5 percent.
Other increases were for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (8.3 percent), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (4.6 percent), restaurants and hotels (4.3 percent), miscellaneous goods and services (3.4 percent), education (2.6 percent), health (2.6 percent) and recreation, services and culture (one percent).
Compared with the previous month, decreases were shown in three main groups, namely food and non-alcoholic beverages, which declined 0.4 percent while transport and miscellaneous goods and services, eased 0.2 percent respectively.
The department said increases were shown for clothing and footwear (0.6 percent), furnishings, household equipment and rountine household maintenance (0.2 percent), health, education, restaurants and hotels by 0.1 percent respectively.
The other four main groups namely alcoholic beverages and tobacco, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, communication and recreational services and culture remained unchanged at 130.2, 105.4, 96.4 and 104.4 respectively.
