Malaysia Inflation Rate1973-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar | Historical

Consumer prices in Malaysia dropped by 2.9% yoy in May 2020, the same as in a month earlier and compared with market consensus of a 2.7% fall. This was the third straight month of deflation and the steepest reading on record on the back of the COVID-19 crisis, with transport prices plunging further (-20.8% vs -21.5% in April) and cost of housing & utilities falling more (-2.6% vs -2.2%). Also, there were falls in cost of both clothing (-1.1% vs -1.2%) and furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance (-0.2% vs 0.3%). At the same time, inflation was unchanged for food (at 1.2%), alcoholic beverages & tobacco (at 0.2%), health (at 1.2%), and communication (at 1.6%). Meanwhile, cost rose further for recreation services & culture (0.7% vs 0.6%), education (1% vs 1.2%) restaurants & hotels (0.9% vs 0.7%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.8% vs 2.7%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.3% in May, after a 2.7% fall in April.

Consumer prices in Malaysia dropped by 2.9% yoy in April 2020, compared with market consensus of a 1.6% fall and after a 0.2% decline in a month earlier. This was the steepest decrease on record, amid a sharp plunge in transport prices (-21.5% vs -8.9% in March) and lower costs of housing & utilities (-2.2% vs 1.6%) and clothing (-1.2% vs -1.3%), mainly attributed to the global pandemic crisis. In addition, prices slowed for alcoholic beverages (0.2% vs 0.3%), furnishing & routine maintenance (0.3% vs 0.8%), restaurants and hotels (0.7% vs 0.9%), health (1.2% vs 1.4%), recreation services & culture (0.6% vs 0.7%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.3% vs 2.6%). Meanwhile, food prices rose 1.2%, the same as in March. Core consumer prices rose 1.3% yoy, the same as in March, staying the lowest since May 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices plunged 2.7%, the most on record, after a 1.2% fall in March.

Consumer prices in Malaysia dropped by 0.2% yoy in March 2020, after a 1.3% gain in February and compared with market consensus of a 0.1% drop. This was the first decline in consumer prices since February 2019, amid a plunge in transport prices (-8.9% vs 2.4% in February) and a faster drop in cost of clothing (-1.3% vs -1.1%). At the same time, prices slowed for both furnishing & routine maintenance (0.8% vs 1%) and restaurants and hotels (0.9% vs 1.1%). Meanwhile, inflation was steady for housing & utilities (at 1.6%), recreation services & culture (at 0.7%), and communication (at 1.5%), while cost rose faster for alcoholic beverages (0.3% vs 0.2%), health (1.4% vs 1.3%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.6% vs 2.5%). Food prices rose 1.2%, the most in three months, after a 0.8% gain in February. Core consumer prices rose by 1.3% yoy, the same as in February, remaining the lowest since May 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 1.2%, the first fall since January 2019.

Malaysia's annual inflation rate fell to 1.3 percent in February 2020 from a 20-month high of 1.6 percent in January and compared with market consensus of 1.4 percent. Prices rose less for food & non-alcoholic beverage (0.8% vs 0.9% in January); housing (1.6% vs 1.7%); furnishing, household equipment & routine maintenance (1% vs 1.2%); transport (2.4% vs 3.9%); health (1.3% vs 1.4%); education (1.3% vs 1.7%); and recreation & culture (0.7% vs 0.9%). In addition, cost of clothing fell further (-1.1% vs -1.2%). Meantime, inflation was steady for communication (at 1.5%), restaurants and hotels (at 1.1%), and miscellaneous goods & services (at 2.5%). Core consumer prices, which exclude most volatile items of fresh food as well as administered prices of goods and services, rose 1.3%, following a 1.7% gain in January, the lowest since May 2019. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in February, the same as in January.