Malaysia Leading Index Eases Further

Malaysia's leading economic index fell 0.3% month-on-month in February 2026, following an upwardly revised 0.7% decline in the previous month. It marked a second straight monthly drop, weighed down by real imports of semiconductors (-0.6% vs -0.02%), the number of companies registered (-0.6% vs -0.04%), and the number of housing units approved (-0.4% vs 0.1%). By contrast, sub-indices that increased included real money supply, M1 (0.7% vs -0.4% in January), the Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (0.2% vs -0.2%), and real imports of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (0.5% vs -0.1%). On an annual basis, the leading index rose 0.5%, easing from 0.6% in January, which was the highest reading in three months. Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, fell 1.4% month-on-month, reversing a 0.9% rise in January.

Malaysia's leading economic index fell by 0.6% month-on-month in January 2026, rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.4% rise in the previous month. Declines were recorded for real money supply, M1 (-0.4% vs 0.4% in December), Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (-0.2% vs -0.1%), real imports of semiconductors (-0.02% vs 0.4%), and the number of companies registered (-0.04% vs 0.2%). On the other hand, real imports of other basic precious and other non-ferrous metals (-0.1% vs -0.2%) fell at a slower pace, while the number of housing units approved (0.1% vs -0.3%) rebounded. On a yearly basis, the leading index grew 0.6%, accelerating from 0.1% in December and marking the highest reading in three months. Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, rose 0.9% month-over-month, from an upwardly revised 0.3% in December 2025.

Malaysia's leading economic index rose by 0.5% month-on-month in December 2025, rebounding from a downwardly revised 2.2% fall in the previous month. The majority of components showed strength, including real money supply, M1 (0.5% vs 0.02% in November), Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (-0.2% vs -0.4%), real imports of semiconductors (0.2% vs -0.7%), and real imports of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (-0.3% vs -0.7%), expected sales value, manufacturing (0.4% vs 0%), and the number of new companies registered (0.3% vs -0.3%). On the other hand, the number of housing units approved continued to decline to 0.4% from 0.1% in the previous month. On a yearly basis, the leading index rose marginally by 0.1% in December 2025, supported by increases in the real money supply M1 (7.3%) and real imports of semiconductors (4.8%). Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, fell 0.02%, reversing an upwardly revised 0.4% in November 2025.