PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s headline inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), moderated for the second consecutive month to 1.8% in October (1.9% in September), the lowest since April 2021, said the statistics department.
In a statement, the department said the index points were recorded at 130.9 as against 128.6 in the same month of the previous year.
Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin said the slower increase in inflation was driven by the lower increases in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group, 3.6% against 3.9% in September.
This was followed by the furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance group at 1.4% (1.5% in September) and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.3% against 2.5% the previous month.
Meanwhile, the other main groups that contributed to a lower rise were the alcoholic beverages and tobacco group at 0.6% and clothing and footwear at 0% against increases of 0.7% and 0.1%, respectively, in September.
Uzir also said that the food and non-alcoholic beverages group contributed 29.5% to the total CPI weight.
The food at home component rose 2.1% against 2.5% recorded in the previous month, mainly driven by the subgroup of rice, bread, and other cereals at 3.6% against 4.1% in September.
In addition, the food away from home component increased slower to 5.6% versus 5.9% in September.
Meanwhile, October’s core inflation, which excludes food and energy, increased slower at 2.4% compared to 2.5% last month but surpassed the overall national inflation rate of 1.8%, with the highest increase recorded in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.8%.
Malaysia’s October headline inflation is lower than the Philippines which is at 4.9%, South Korea at 3.8%, Vietnam at 3.6%, and Indonesia at 2.6%.
