2018.10.2608:43:00UTC+00Malaysia's Consumer Inflation Rises Less Than Forecast

Malaysia's consumer inflation accelerated less-than-forecast in September, primarily driven by the effect of fuel prices that remained unchanged from March to September, figures from the Department of Statistics showed Friday.

Consumer prices rose 0.3 percent year-on-year, which half of the 0.6 percent increase economists had forecast. In August, inflation was at a 42-month low of 0.2 percent.

In September, the annual slowdown was led by the impact of RON95 fuel prices that were stable at RMB 2.20 from March to September period versus the corresponding period in the previous year.

Among main groups, costs of housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels rose 2.1 percent and prices in restaurants & hotels and education costs were up by 1.1 percent. Prices of food & non-alcoholic beverages grew 0.5 percent from the same period of last year.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew 0.4 percent from 0.2 percent in the previous month. During the January to September period, consumer prices registered an annual growth of 1.2 percent.