Malaysia Leading Index Falls for 3rd Month

Malaysia's leading economic index increased 1.25% month-on-month in April 2026, following a revised 0.04% rise in the previous month. It was the second consecutive monthly increase in the leading economic index and the fastest pace since last October, mainly supported by rebounds in real imports of semiconductors (0.9% vs -0.5% in March) and the number of companies registered (0.9% vs -0.1%). Increases were also seen in the Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (0.1% vs 0.01%) and housing units (0.04% vs 0.2%). By contrast, sub-indices for real money supply M1 (-0.3% vs 0.2%) and real imports of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (-0.1% vs 0.2%) declined. On an annual basis, the leading index rose 1.29%, accelerating from an upwardly revised 0.7% in March. Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, climbed 0.9% month-on-month, following a 0.8% gain in March.

Malaysia's leading economic index edged down 0.1% month-on-month in March 2026, following a 0.3% decline in the previous month. It marked a third straight monthly drop, weighed down by declines in real imports of semiconductors (-0.9% vs -0.8%) and the number of companies registered (-0.1% vs -0.6%). Meanwhile, increases were seen in real money supply M1 (0.3% vs 0.6%), the Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (0.02% vs 0.2%), and real imports of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (0.3% vs 0.5%), while the number of housing units approved rebounded (0.3% vs -0.2%). On an annual basis, the leading index rose 0.5%, easing from an upwardly revised 0.8% in February. Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, rose 0.8% month-on-month, rebounding from a 1.4% fall in February.

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.