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Malaysia Consumer Prices Fall More than Estimated
Consumer prices in Malaysia dropped by 2.9% yoy in May 2020, the same as in a month earlier and compared with market consensus of a 2.7% fall. This was the third straight month of deflation and the steepest reading on record on the back of the COVID-19 crisis, with transport prices plunging further (-20.8% vs -21.5% in April) and cost of housing & utilities falling more (-2.6% vs -2.2%). Also, there were falls in cost of both clothing (-1.1% vs -1.2%) and furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance (-0.2% vs 0.3%). At the same time, inflation was unchanged for food (at 1.2%), alcoholic beverages & tobacco (at 0.2%), health (at 1.2%), and communication (at 1.6%). Meanwhile, cost rose further for recreation services & culture (0.7% vs 0.6%), education (1% vs 1.2%) restaurants & hotels (0.9% vs 0.7%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.8% vs 2.7%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.3% in May, after a 2.7% fall in April.
Published on 2020-06-24

Malaysia Consumer Prices Fall at Record Pace
Consumer prices in Malaysia dropped by 2.9% yoy in April 2020, compared with market consensus of a 1.6% fall and after a 0.2% decline in a month earlier. This was the steepest decrease on record, amid a sharp plunge in transport prices (-21.5% vs -8.9% in March) and lower costs of housing & utilities (-2.2% vs 1.6%) and clothing (-1.2% vs -1.3%), mainly attributed to the global pandemic crisis. In addition, prices slowed for alcoholic beverages (0.2% vs 0.3%), furnishing & routine maintenance (0.3% vs 0.8%), restaurants and hotels (0.7% vs 0.9%), health (1.2% vs 1.4%), recreation services & culture (0.6% vs 0.7%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.3% vs 2.6%). Meanwhile, food prices rose 1.2%, the same as in March. Core consumer prices rose 1.3% yoy, the same as in March, staying the lowest since May 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices plunged 2.7%, the most on record, after a 1.2% fall in March.
Published on 2020-05-20

Malaysia Consumer Prices Fall for 1st Time in 13 Months
Consumer prices in Malaysia dropped by 0.2% yoy in March 2020, after a 1.3% gain in February and compared with market consensus of a 0.1% drop. This was the first decline in consumer prices since February 2019, amid a plunge in transport prices (-8.9% vs 2.4% in February) and a faster drop in cost of clothing (-1.3% vs -1.1%). At the same time, prices slowed for both furnishing & routine maintenance (0.8% vs 1%) and restaurants and hotels (0.9% vs 1.1%). Meanwhile, inflation was steady for housing & utilities (at 1.6%), recreation services & culture (at 0.7%), and communication (at 1.5%), while cost rose faster for alcoholic beverages (0.3% vs 0.2%), health (1.4% vs 1.3%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.6% vs 2.5%). Food prices rose 1.2%, the most in three months, after a 0.8% gain in February. Core consumer prices rose by 1.3% yoy, the same as in February, remaining the lowest since May 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 1.2%, the first fall since January 2019.
Published on 2020-04-22

Malaysia February Inflation Rate Below Estimates
Malaysia's annual inflation rate fell to 1.3 percent in February 2020 from a 20-month high of 1.6 percent in January and compared with market consensus of 1.4 percent. Prices rose less for food & non-alcoholic beverage (0.8% vs 0.9% in January); housing (1.6% vs 1.7%); furnishing, household equipment & routine maintenance (1% vs 1.2%); transport (2.4% vs 3.9%); health (1.3% vs 1.4%); education (1.3% vs 1.7%); and recreation & culture (0.7% vs 0.9%). In addition, cost of clothing fell further (-1.1% vs -1.2%). Meantime, inflation was steady for communication (at 1.5%), restaurants and hotels (at 1.1%), and miscellaneous goods & services (at 2.5%). Core consumer prices, which exclude most volatile items of fresh food as well as administered prices of goods and services, rose 1.3%, following a 1.7% gain in January, the lowest since May 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in February, the same as in January.
Published on 2020-03-25

Malaysia Inflation Rate at 20-Month High of 1.6%
Malaysia's annual inflation rate increased to a 20-month high of 1.6 percent in January 2020 from 1 percent in December 2019 and matching market estimates. Transport prices rebounded (3.9% vs -1.9%) and cost rose faster for miscellaneous (2.5% vs 2.4%) and recreation & culture (0.9% vs 0.6%). Meantime, inflation was steady for: housing (at 1.7%); health (1.4%); communication (1.5%); education (1.7%) and restaurants and hotels (1.1%). On the other hand, prices went up softer for food & non-alcoholic beverage (0.9% vs 1.7%) and furnishings, household equipment & routine maintenance (1.2% vs 1.4) while prices fell further for clothing (-1.2% vs -1%). Core consumer prices, which exclude most volatile items of fresh food as well as administered prices of goods and services, rose to 1.7% in January from 1.4% in the previous two months, the highest since August 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.1% in January, after a 0.2% gain in December.
Published on 2020-02-21

Malaysia Inflation Rate Inches Higher in December
Malaysia's annual inflation rate edged up to 1.0 percent in December 2019 from a six-month low of 0.9 percent in November and matching market estimates, driven by rising food prices. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent in December, after a 0.1 percent gain in November.
Published on 2020-01-22

Malaysia Inflation Rate Below Forecasts in November
Malaysia's annual inflation rate unexpectedly fell to 0.9 percent in November of 2019 from 1.1 percent in the previous month and less than market estimates of 1.2 percent. This was the lowest inflation rate since May, as food prices rose the least in six months while cost of transports fell further. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.1 percent in November, compared to a 0.2 percent in October.
Published on 2019-12-20

Malaysia Inflation Rate Unchanged at 4-Month Low
Malaysia's annual inflation rate was at 1.1 percent in October of 2019, unchanged from September's four-month low and compared to market expectations of 1.0 percent. Housing inflation was steady, while food inflation was at 5-month low and transport cost fell further. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent in October, compared to a flat reading in September.
Published on 2019-11-20

Malaysia Inflation Rate Slows to 4-Month Low in September
Malaysia's annual inflation rate fell to 1.1 percent in September 2019 from 1.5 percent in the previous month and below market expectations of 1.4 percent. This was the lowest inflation rate since May, as food prices rose the least in four months, housing inflation eased and transport cost fell further. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were flat in September, after a 0.2 percent gain in August.
Published on 2019-10-23

Malaysia August Inflation Rate Rises to 1.5%
Malaysia's annual inflation rate edged up to 1.5 percent in August 2019 from 1.4 percent in the previous month and in line with market expectations. Food inflation accelerated to a 16-month high while housing & utilities prices slowed.
Published on 2019-09-25

Malaysia Inflation Rate Eases to 1.4% in July
Malaysia's annual inflation rate edged down to 1.4 percent in July 2019 from a 13-month high of 1.5 percent in the previous month and below market expectations of 1.5 percent. Housing & utilities inflation slowed while transport prices continued to drop.
Published on 2019-08-14

Malaysia Inflation Rate Rises to 13-Month High
Malaysia's annual inflation rate rose to 1.5 percent in June 2019 from 0.2 percent in the previous month and compared to market expectations of 1.6 percent. That was the highest rate since May 2018, as the effects of tax policy changes introduced last year faded. Food and housing & utilities prices rose faster while transport cost dropped less than in a month earlier. Core consumer prices, which exclude most volatile items of fresh food as well as administered prices of goods and services, rose 1.9 percent in June, the most since January last year and compared to a 0.4 percent gain in May. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were flat in June, following a 0.2 percent rise in May.
Published on 2019-07-24

Malaysia Inflation Rate Steady for 3rd Month at 0.2%
Malaysia's annual inflation rate came in at 0.2 percent in May 2019, unchanged from the previous month and below market consensus of 0.3 percent. Main upward pressure came from both food and housing & utilities prices while transport prices continued to drop, though less. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up by 0.2 percent in May, following a flat reading in April.
Published on 2019-06-26

Malaysia April Inflation Rate Below Estimates
Malaysia's consumer price inflation stood at 0.2 percent year-on-year in April 2019, unchanged from the previous month but less than market consensus of 0.4 percent. Main upward pressure came from prices of food, housing & utilities and education. Transport cost continued to fall but at a softer pace. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were flat in April, following a 0.2 percent gain in March.
Published on 2019-05-24

Malaysia Consumer Prices Rise Less than Expected
Malaysia's consumer price increased 0.2 percent year-on-year in March 2019, rebounding from a 0.4 percent fall in the previous month but lower than an expected 0.3 percent rise. It was the first increase in consumer prices since December last year, as food prices rose faster and housing inflation was steady while transport prices fell less than a month earlier. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up by 0.2 percent in March, the same pace as in February.
Published on 2019-04-24

Malaysia Consumer Prices Fall More than Expected
Malaysia's consumer prices decreased 0.4 percent year-on-year in February 2019, following a 0.7 percent fall in the previous month and more than an expected 0.3 percent drop. This was the second annual straight decline in consumer prices since November 2009, mainly due to transport prices while inflation was steady for both food and housing. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent in February, swinging from a 0.5 percent fall in January.
Published on 2019-03-22

Malaysia Posts First Deflation in Over 9 Years
Malaysia's consumer prices fell 0.7 percent year-on-year in January 2019, after a 0.2 percent rise in the previous month and compared to market consensus of a 0.2 percent drop. It was the first decline in consumer prices since November 2009, mainly due to a slump in cost of transport on cheaper fuel. Also, prices decreased for miscellaneous, communication, recreation and culture while they rose faster for food products. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went down 0.5 percent in January, following a 0.1 percent rise in the preceding month and marking the first monthly decrease in seven months.
Published on 2019-02-22

Malaysia Annual Inflation Rate Steady at 0.2% in December
Malaysia's consumer price inflation came in at 0.2 percent year-on-year in December 2018, unchanged from the previous month and below market consensus of 0.4 percent. It remained the lowest inflation rate since August, as cost of food slowed. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.1 percent in December, following a 0.2 percent rise in the preceding month and marking the sixth straight monthly gain.
Published on 2019-01-24

Malaysia November Inflation Rate at 3-Month Low of 0.2%
Malaysia's consumer price inflation slowed to 0.2 percent year-on-year in November of 2018 from 0.6 percent in the previous month and far below market expectations of 0.6 percent. It was the lowest inflation rate since August, due to a softer rise in cost of both food and housing and a slump in prices of transport. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.2 percent, the same pace as in the preceding month and marking the fifth straight monthly increase.
Published on 2018-12-19

Malaysia Inflation Rate at 3-Month High of 0.6% in October
Malaysia's consumer price inflation rose to 0.6 percent year-on-year in October of 2018 from 0.3 percent in the previous month and matching market expectations. It was the highest inflation rate since July, due to a jump in prices of food and a faster rise in cost of transport while housing inflation was steady. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.2 percent, after a 0.4 percent rise in the preceding month and marking the fourth straight monthly increase.
Published on 2018-11-23