Malaysia’s annual consumer inflation eased to 1.8% in September from 1.9% in August. Slower price increases in housing and utilities helped reduce the overall rate as household electricity protection widened. Transport inflation nevertheless accelerated, and health prices also rose faster. The third-quarter rate remained unchanged at 1.9%, with the monthly release falling below surveyed expectations.
Malaysia’s annual consumer inflation eased to 1.8% in September from 1.9% in August.[1], [2]
The Department of Statistics Malaysia released the figures on October 19. The result was below the 1.9% expectation in a Reuters poll and the 2.0% forecast from UOB Global Economics & Market Research. Inflation over the third quarter as a whole remained at 1.9%, matching the preceding quarter.[1]
Annual inflation in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels slowed to 1.4% from 2.1%. The statistics department linked slower electricity inflation to the fuel adjustment for domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia. Electricity bill protection expanded from a monthly consumption threshold of 600 kilowatt-hours to 800 kilowatt-hours, covering consumption between September 1 and December 31.[1]
Transport inflation accelerated to 2.5% from 2.0%, while health inflation edged up to 1.4% from 1.3%. Food and beverage inflation eased to 1.8% from 1.9%. Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services slowed to 2.8% from 3.2%. The headline decline therefore accompanied different movements across household spending categories; consumer prices were still higher than a year earlier.[1]
