THE country’s inflation rate remained at 4.0% in November despite an increase in food prices, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
In a statement today Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the inflation for the food category increased 7.3% and remained as the main contributor to the rise in the inflation for this month.
“Restaurants and hotels edged up to 7.0% as compared to 6.8% in October while a slower increase was recorded for the transport category (5.0%) and furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance (3.8%),” he said.
In addition, other main groups which also recorded increases were recreation services and culture (3.6%), miscellaneous goods and services (2.6%) and education (1.5%).
Meanwhile, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and health groups recorded an increase by 1.4% respectively, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco as well as clothing and footwear inclined 0.8% and 0.4% respectively as against Nov 2021.
Uzir said all sub-groups in food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded an increase from 1.6% to 8.9%.
He said chicken was the largest component in the sub-group of the meat category, contributing to a 6.4% increase compared with 4.8% in October.
For the transport category, the increase in inflation was mainly contributed by transport services at 7.2%.
Uzir said the inflation rate for the period from January to November increased by 3.4% compared with 2.3% for the same period in 2021.
“At the same time, four states recorded increases above the national inflation level of 4%, with Putrajaya at 7.9%, Selangor (4.8%), Sarawak (4.7%) and Johor (4.2%). However, Labuan recorded the lowest increase of 2.4%,” he said.
He also said inflation for the income group earning below RM3,000 increased by 3.9% in November compared with the same month last year.
The increase was mainly attributed to the sub-group of milk, cheese and eggs (9%) followed by meat (8.7%) as well as rice, bread and other cereals (6.7%), he added.
Uzir said all sub-groups in food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded an increase from 1.6% to 8.9%.
He noted that chicken was the largest component in the sub-group of the meat category, contributing to a 6.4% increase compared with 4.8% in October.
For the transport category, the increase in inflation was mainly contributed by transport services at 7.2%.
Uzir said the inflation rate for the period from January to November increased by 3.4% compared with 2.3% for the same period in 2021.
“At the same time, four states recorded increases above the national inflation level of 4%, with Putrajaya at 7.9%, Selangor (4.8%), Sarawak (4.7%) and Johor (4.2%). However, Labuan recorded the lowest increase of 2.4%,” he said.
He also revealed that inflation for the income group earning below RM3,000 increased by 3.9% in November compared with the same month last year.
The increase was mainly attributed to the sub-group of milk, cheese and eggs (9%) followed by meat (8.7%) as well as rice, bread and other cereals (6.7%), he said. – Dec 23, 2022
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