Inflation up 3% year-on-year in March

KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumer Price Index for March rose 3% year-on-year
to 102.4 from 99.4 a year ago, and was up 0.1% month-on-month, due to
higher indices in the main groups.
In a statement Wednesday, April 20, the Department of Statistics said
the index rose 0.1% in February, with increases in the indices for
restaurants and hotels; education; miscellaneous goods and services,
housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and transport.
For the first quarter of 2011, inflation rose by 2.8% to 102.2 from
99.4 in the same period last year, with increases in all main groups
except clothing and footwear and communications.
Meanwhile, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages and
non-food for March 2011 showed increases of 4.7% and 2.3% respectively,
as compared to the same month last year.
For the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, the index for food
and non-alcoholic beverages and non-food rose 4.3% and 2.2%
respectively.