Malaysia’s Aug CPI up 1.5%

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 1.5% in August this year compared to the same month of the previous year.

“Out of 552 items covered in CPI, 396 items showed an increase in August 2019 as against August 2018. On the contrary, 117 items declined while 39 items were unchanged,” said Malaysia’s chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin in a press statement.

The increase in the overall index was driven by the index of furnishings,household equipment & routine household maintenance (3.2%), food & non-alcoholic beverages (2.6%), alcoholic beverages & tobacco (2.5%), miscellaneous goods & services (2.5%), recreation services & culture (2.3%) and communication (2.2%).

On a monthly basis, the index increased by 0.2% compared to the previous month, mainly supported by the housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (0.5%), miscellaneous goods & services (0.5%), food & non-alcoholic beverages (0.2%), health (0.2%) and restaurants & hotels (0.2%) index.

From January to August 2019, the CPI saw an increase of 0.5% compared to the same period of last year.

source https://www.thesundaily.my/business/malaysia-s-aug-cpi-up-1-5-LX1404094