PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s inflation rate eased slightly to 1.8% in November, down from 1.9% in October, marking the first decline since August 2021.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the modest drop reflects slower price increases in key sectors, including information and communication (-2.3%), transport (-0.2%), and clothing and footwear (-0.1%).
Core inflation, which strips out volatile items like food and energy, remained steady at 1.8%.
Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin highlighted that the overall inflation rise in November was primarily driven by higher costs in food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.7%) as well as housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (3.2%).
Most states reported inflation levels below the national average of 1.8%. However, five states recorded higher rates:
- Penang: 2.9%
- Pahang: 2.4%
- Selangor: 2.1%
- Johor: 1.9%
- Sarawak: 1.9%
Despite the uptick in certain areas, Uzir emphasized that Malaysia’s inflation remains moderate compared to regional neighbors. While higher than Indonesia’s 1.6% and Thailand’s 1.0%, it is still below Vietnam’s 2.8% and the Philippines’ 2.5%.
The easing inflation offers a glimpse of stability, signaling a positive step for the nation’s economic recovery efforts.
