KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — The national volume index of services recorded a year-on-year growth of 5.8 per cent in the first quarter (1Q) of 2026, reaching 168.0 points, said the Malaysian Statistics Department (DOSM).
The index covers four segments: wholesale and retail trade; food and beverage; accommodation; business services and finance; information and communication; transportation and storage; and other services.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said that overall, growth in the volume index of services in the 1Q 2026 was mainly driven by the wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage, and accommodation segment, which expanded by 5.7 per cent.
“This was followed by the information and communication and transportation and storage segment, which recorded an increase of 8.1 per cent.
“Meanwhile, the business services and finance segment grew by 3.0 per cent, while the other services segment registered a higher growth of 9.3 per cent,” he said in a statement today.
DOSM added that the volume index for the wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage and accommodation segment rose by 5.7 per cent to 166.3 points, supported by growth in wholesale and retail trade (4.9 per cent), food and beverage (8.5 per cent), and accommodation (15.0 per cent).
“At the same time, the information and communication and transportation and storage segment increased by 8.1 per cent to 191.2 points, driven by growth in information and communication (8.0 per cent) and transportation and storage (8.3 per cent),” it said.
Meanwhile, the business services and finance segment recorded a volume index of 156.8 points, with a growth of 3.0 per cent.
“This increase was supported by professional and administrative and support services (6.2 per cent), followed by real estate (7.4 per cent) and finance and insurance (0.1 per cent), reflecting steady business activity and supportive market conditions during the quarter,” DOSM said.
Other services segment grew by 9.3 per cent to 146.9 points, driven by increases in arts, entertainment and recreation and personal services and other activities (8.8 per cent), private health (9.7 per cent), and private education (9.3 per cent).
