Malaysia's inflation rate up 1.7% in April, highest in 11 months

KUALA LUMPUR: Higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages
pushed Malaysia's inflation rate up 1.7% in April, which was the
highest in 11 months.
The Statistics Department said on
Wednesday the consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.7% from 104.5 to 106.3.
The 1.7% increase was in line with Bloomberg's consensus forecast of
1.7%.
"The index for food & non-alcoholic beverages and
non-food for April 2013 showed increases of 3.8% and 0.8%t respectively
as compared to the same month in 2012," it said.
The department said the CPI, when compared with March, increased by 0.1%.
For the period January to April, the CPI increased by 1.5% to 106.1 from 104.5 in the previous corresponding period.
Alliance
Research said following the April CPI, which was the highest in 11
months, it was maintaining its full-year target of 2.5% this year.
"While
the government may likely retain subsidies for certain foodstuffs, it
may be pressured to realign the subsidies for fuel (for example
petroleum and diesel) and fuel-related products (e.g. cooking gas) in
order to achieve the targeted fiscal deficit of 4% for this year," said
the research house.