Malaysia Leading Economic Index Falls 0.5% in May

2026-07-24 04:09 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

Malaysia's leading economic index dropped 0.5% month-on-month in May 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 1.1% rise in the previous month.

It was the first monthly decline in the leading economic index in three months and the fastest since January, weighed down by drops in real imports of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (-0.6% vs -0.3% in May), the number of housing units approved (-0.2% vs 0.1%), and the number of companies registered (-0.4% vs 0.9%).

By contrast, increases were seen in real imports of semiconductors (0.2% vs 0.9% in April) and the Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (0.1% vs 0.1%), while rebounds were seen in real money supply M1 (0.2% vs -0.3%) and expected sales value in manufacturing (0.2% vs -0.3%).

On an annual basis, the leading index rose 0.3%, slowing from 1.3% in April.

Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, fell 0.3% month-on-month, reversing a 0.9% gain in April.



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Malaysia Leading Economic Index Falls 0.5% in May
Malaysia's leading economic index dropped 0.5% month-on-month in May 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 1.1% rise in the previous month. It was the first monthly decline in the leading economic index in three months and the fastest since January, weighed down by drops in real imports of other basic precious and non-ferrous metals (-0.6% vs -0.3% in May), the number of housing units approved (-0.2% vs 0.1%), and the number of companies registered (-0.4% vs 0.9%). By contrast, increases were seen in real imports of semiconductors (0.2% vs 0.9% in April) and the Bursa Malaysia Industrial Index (0.1% vs 0.1%), while rebounds were seen in real money supply M1 (0.2% vs -0.3%) and expected sales value in manufacturing (0.2% vs -0.3%). On an annual basis, the leading index rose 0.3%, slowing from 1.3% in April. Meanwhile, the coincident index, a gauge of current economic conditions, fell 0.3% month-on-month, reversing a 0.9% gain in April.
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