Malaysia's inflation 3.8%

Malaysia's inflation 3.8%

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's consumer prices rose 3.8 percent year-on-year in June, slightly higher than the 3.6 percent increase in May, the statistics department said yesterday.

Month-on-month inflation, measured by the national consumer price index (CPI), rose 0.2 percent in June, the department said in its monthly inflation report released through the national Bernama news agency.

For the first half year, the CPI rose 3.5 percent year-on-year due largely to price rises of between 3.1 percent and 5.3 percent for food, recreation, entertainment, education and cultural services, medical care and health expenses.

Price increases for food and rents and fuel and power together accounted for 72.2 percent of the overall price rise logged in the January to June period, the department said.

Goods and services rose by 2.7 percent, beverages and tobacco 2.4 percent, furniture, furnishings and household equipment and operation 2.3 percent and transport and communication 2.0 percent.