Business

Published: Friday June 22, 2012 MYT 5:07:00 PM

May inflation rate up 1.7% on-year


KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's inflation rate in May, measured by the consumer price index, rose 1.7% from a year ago, mainly due to food and non-alcoholic beverages and non-food.

The Statistics Department said on Friday the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages and non-food increased 3.0% and 1.2% respectively from a year ago.

It said the CPI, when compared with April, increased by 0.2%.

For the period January to May, the inflation rate increased by 2.1% to 104.5 compared with 102.4 in the previous corresponding period.

"For the period January to May 2012, the index for food & non-alcoholic beverages and non-food increased by 3.2% and 1.5% respectively," it said.

The department said the 2.1% increase in January-May was due to increases in all the main groups except those of communication (-0.6%) and clothing & footwear (-0.4%).

Notable increases among these main groups with high weights were food & non-alcoholic beverages (+3.2%); housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+1.8%) and transport (+1.1%).

Other increases were restaurants & hotels (+3.5%); education (+2.9%); miscellaneous goods & services (+2.7%); recreation services & culture (+2.3%); furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance and health by 2.2% respectively. The index for alcoholic beverages & tobacco remained unchanged at 104.6.

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