KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — Malaysia’s inflation remained unchanged at 2 per cent in August, similar to the rate recorded in July, said the Statistics Department (DOSM).
In a statement today, DOSM said the inflation rate recorded in August was due to slower growth in restaurants and hotels, which fell to 4.7 per cent from 5 per cent in July; food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.1 per cent from 4.4 per cent in July), and miscellaneous goods and services (2.4 per cent from 2.6 per cent in July).
It said the food and non-alcoholic beverages group contributed 29.5 per cent of total consumer price index weight.
DOSM said the inflation rate for the transport sector for August did not record any increase, compared with -0.4 per cent in July.
The department said core inflation moderated to 2.5 per cent in August versus 2.8 per cent in July, but still surpassed the overall national inflation rate of 2 per cent.
“The highest increase was recorded by the food and non-alcoholic beverages group with a 5.1 per cent increase, followed by the restaurants and hotels group (up 4.7 per cent) and transport (up 3.6 per cent).
“Miscellaneous goods and services and health increased by 2.4 per cent each,” it said.
Malaysia’s inflation rate was lower than that in the Eurozone (5.3 per cent), the Philippines (5.3 per cent), South Korea (3.4 per cent), Indonesia (3.3 per cent) and Vietnam (3 per cent), said DOSM.
However, the rate was higher than Thailand (0.9 per cent) and China (0.1 per cent), it added.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said seven states recorded increases above the national inflation level of 2 per cent, namely, Sarawak (3.4 per cent), Putrajaya (2.7 per cent), Perlis (2.4 per cent), Perak (2.3 per cent), Selangor (2.3 per cent), Pahang (2.2 per cent) and Melaka (2.1 per cent), while the other nine states recorded growth below 2 per cent.
On a month-on-month basis, DOSM said headline inflation in August increased marginally to 0.2 per cent against 0.1 per cent in July.
The increase was mainly contributed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which rose 0.5 per cent from no changes in July, as well as health, which increased 0.5 per cent from 0.2 per cent in July.
— Bernama
