May inflation rate up 1.7% on-year

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's inflation rate in May, measured by the
consumer price index, rose 1.7% from a year ago, mainly due to food and
non-alcoholic beverages and non-food.
The Statistics Department
said on Friday the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages and
non-food increased 3.0% and 1.2% respectively from a year ago.
It said the CPI, when compared with April, increased by 0.2%.
For
the period January to May, the inflation rate increased by 2.1% to
104.5 compared with 102.4 in the previous corresponding period.
"For
the period January to May 2012, the index for food & non-alcoholic
beverages and non-food increased by 3.2% and 1.5% respectively," it
said.
The department said the 2.1% increase in January-May was
due to increases in all the main groups except those of communication
(-0.6%) and clothing & footwear (-0.4%).
Notable increases
among these main groups with high weights were food & non-alcoholic
beverages (+3.2%); housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels
(+1.8%) and transport (+1.1%).
Other increases were restaurants
& hotels (+3.5%); education (+2.9%); miscellaneous goods &
services (+2.7%); recreation services & culture (+2.3%);
furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance
and health by 2.2% respectively. The index for alcoholic beverages
& tobacco remained unchanged at 104.6.