PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s inflation rate eased to 1.8% in November, a slight dip from October’s 1.9%, marking the first decline since August 2021.
According to the statistics department, the marginal decrease was primarily driven by slower price increases in key sectors. These include information and communication (-2.3%), transport (-0.2%), and clothing and footwear (-0.1%).
Core inflation, which excludes highly volatile categories like food and energy, held steady at 1.8%.
Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin noted that the 1.8% rise in inflation last month was largely fueled by higher costs in food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.7%), along with housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (3.2%).
Most states recorded inflation levels below the national average of 1.8%. However, five states surpassed the national rate:
- Penang: 2.9%
- Pahang: 2.4%
- Selangor: 2.1%
- Johor: 1.9%
- Sarawak: 1.9%
Uzir highlighted that Malaysia’s inflation rate remains moderate compared to its regional peers. At 1.8%, it is lower than Vietnam’s 2.8% and the Philippines’ 2.5%, but slightly higher than Indonesia’s 1.6% and Thailand’s 1.0%.
The moderate inflation rate reflects ongoing stability in the nation’s economic environment, providing a cautiously optimistic outlook for consumers and policymakers alike.
