Malaysia Inflation Eases Unexpectedly To 1.4%

(RTTNews) - Malaysia's consumer price inflation eased unexpectedly in March to the lowest level in just over four years, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Wednesday.

The consumer price index, or CPI, climbed 1.4 percent year-on-year in March, slightly slower than the 1.5 percent rise in February. Further, this was the weakest inflation rate since February 2021.

Meanwhile, core inflation remained stable at 1.9 percent in March.

Housing and utility costs rose at a slower pace of 1.9 percent annually in March versus 2.3 percent in February. Inflation based on food and beverages held steady at 1.9 percent, while clothing and footwear prices were 0.2 percent less expensive.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices remained flat in March after rising 0.4 percent in February.