Consumer prices in Malaysia rose 2.0 percent year-on-year in May of 2016, compared to a 2.1 percent gain in April and matching market estimates. It was the lowest inflation figure since April 2015 as prices of food and housing & utilities eased while cost of transport fell further.
Year-on-year, prices moderated for: food & non-alcoholic beverages (+4.1 percent in May from +4.2 percent in April); housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+2.2 percent from +2.6 percent); furnishing, household equipment & routine maintenance (+2.2 percent from +2.6 percent); health (+2.0 percent from +2.2 percent); recreation services & culture (+1.5 percent from +1.6 percent), restaurants & hotels (+2.5 percent from +2.7 percent) and miscellaneous goods & services (+2.5 percent from +2.6 percent). Price rose at a faster pace for: alcoholic beverages & tobacco (+22.1 percent from +20.1 percent) and education (+2.2 percent from +2.1 percent). In contrast, cost declined for clothing & footwear (-0.9 percent from -0.7 percent), transport (-5.6 percent from -5.5 percent) and communication (-2.2 percent from -2.1 percent).
Calendar | GMT | Reference | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Forecast |
2016-04-20 | 4:00 AM | Mar | 2.60% | 4.20% | 3.60% | 3.70% |
2016-05-20 | 4:00 AM | Apr | 2.10% | 2.60% | 2.20% | 2.20% |
2016-06-15 | 4:00 AM | May | 2.00% | 2.10% | 2% | 2.20% |
2016-07-20 | 4:00 AM | Jun |
| 2% |
| 2.30% |
2016-08-24 | 4:00 AM | Jul |
|
|
| 2.60% |
2016-09-21 | 4:00 AM | Aug |
|
|
| 2.40% |
Among food & non-alcoholic beverages, customers had to pay more for: food (+4.2 percent in May from +4.4 percent in April); food at home (+4.6 percent from +4.6 percent); rice, bread & other cereals (+0.9 percent from +0.9 percent); meat (+0.3 percent from +0.5 percent); fish & seafood (+6.6 percent from +8.4 percent); milk & eggs (+1.1 percent from +0.1 percent), oils & fats (+0.4 percent from +0.4 percent), fruits (+6.1 percent from +7.3 percent); vegetables (+15.3 percent from +12.5 percent); sugar, jam, honey, chocolate & confectionary (+1.8 percent from +2.1 percent); food products (+5.3 percent from +4.9 percent) and food away from home (+3.6 percent from +3.9 percent) and coffee, tea, cocoa & non-alcoholic beverages (+0.6 percent from +1.0 percent).
Forecast | Actual | Q2/16 | Q3/16 | Q4/16 | Q1/17 | 2020 | Unit |
Inflation Rate | 2 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.47 | percent |
Core consumer prices rose by 2.1 percent year-on-year in May, slowing from 2.3 percent in the preceding month.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.3 percent, after gaining 0.4 percent in April. Upward prices pressure came from: food & non-alcoholic beverages (+0.3 percent), alcoholic beverages & tobacco (+0.1 percent), housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (+0.5 percent), health (+0.1 percent), recreation services & culture (+0.1 percent), restaurants & hotels (+0.2 percent) and miscellaneous goods & services (+0.2 percent). In contrast, prices declined by 0.1 percent for clothing & footwear. Prices remained unchanged for: furnisshing, household equipment & routine maintenance, transport, communication and education.
Source: http://www.tradingeconomics.com