Overview

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The overall index for CPI rose at a higher rate of 4.5 per cent to 119.7 in February 2017 from 114.5 in the corresponding month of the preceding year. Among the major groups which recorded increases were the indices for Transport (+17.9 per cent), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+4.3 per cent), Recreation Services & Culture (+3.1 per cent), Health (+2.4 per cent), Restaurants and Hotels (+2.3 per cent) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.2 per cent).     (Table 1)

Chart 1: Consumer Price Index: Index Number for Overall and Selected Main Groups

The index of transport group showed a significant increase of 17.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis in February 2017, after rising 8.3 per cent in January 2017. The average price of 1 litre of RON95 petrol was RM2.30 in February 2017 compared to RM1.75 in February 2016. As for RON97, the average price increased to RM2.60 in February 2017 from RM2.05 in February 2016.

The index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages which accounted 30.2 per cent in the CPI weights, increased 4.3 per cent in February 2017. The increase was fuelled by food sub-group which comprised of Oils and Fats (+38.3 per cent), Vegetables (+9.5 per cent), Meat (+4.6 per cent) and Fish & Seafood (+4.5 per cent). As for Food Away From Home index, it continued to rise in February 2017 and showed an increase of 4.1 per cent.

Chart 2: Consumer Price Index: Annual Percentage Change for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Among the index of food items which recorded notable increases in February 2017 compared to the same period last year were Cooking Oil (+47.9 per cent), Round Cabbage (+29.7 per cent), Spinach (+20.4 per cent), Watermelon (+14.0 per cent), Choy Sam (+13.4 per cent), Prawn (+7.5 per cent), Chicken (+5.7 per cent), Spanish Mackerel (Fish) (+4.8 per cent) and Indian Mackerel (Fish) (+4.4 per cent). Meanwhile, decreases were registered in the index of some food items such as Shallots (-13.8 per cent), Onions, Big (-5.6 per cent) and Carrots (-1.3 per cent).

The increase in the index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages was reflected in most states in Malaysia especially those in highly urbanised states such as Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Pulau Pinang, Johor and Melaka.

Chart 3: Consumer Price Index: Annual Percentage Change for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by State

Seven states recorded higher increases for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages index above the national level index for February 2017 compared to the corresponding month in 2016. The index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose 5.4 per cent in Melaka, 5.3 per cent in Johor, 5.1 per cent in Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, 4.9 per cent in Kedah & Perlis, 4.7 per cent in Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, 4.5 per cent in Pulau Pinang and 4.4 per cent in Negeri Sembilan.

On a monthly basis, the index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased 0.9 per cent in February 2017, at the same pace in January 2017. Meanwhile, the index for Non-Food recorded an increase of 1.4 per cent in February 2017 compared with the preceding month.

Based on a seasonally adjusted term, the overall CPI for February 2017 increased 1.3 per cent as compared to January 2017.(Table 1)

Core inflation rose 2.5 per cent in February 2017 compared to the same month of the previous year. Among the major groups which influenced the higher core rate were price increases for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+3.7 per cent), Transport (+3.1 per cent), Recreation Services & Culture (+3.1 per cent), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.7 per cent) and Health (+2.4 per cent).(Table 3)

CPI changes for the period January – February 2017/2016

CPI for the period January to February 2017 registered an increase of 3.9 per cent as compared to the same period last year. The index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages were the main contributor to the CPI rise in the period January to February 2017, registered an increase of 4.2 per cent. The increase was the result of increases in the index for Food At Home (+4.6 per cent) and Food Away From Home (+3.9 per cent). While, the index for Coffee, Tea, Cocoa & Non-Alcoholic Beverages decreased 0.1 per cent. Among the subgroups of Food At Home which showed significant increases during this period as shown in Table 2 were Oils & Fat (+38.1 per cent), Vegetables (+8.7 per cent), Fish & Seafood (+5.3 per cent), Meat (+3.3 per cent) and Fruits (+2.8 per cent).

Other major groups which contributing to the CPI rise during this period were Transport (+13.0 per cent), Recreation Services & Culture (+3.1 per cent), Health (+2.5 per cent), Restaurants & Hotels (+2.2 per cent) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.0 per cent).

Core inflation, which excludes most volatile items of fresh food, as well as administered prices of goods and services records changes ranging from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent in the period January to February 2017 compared to the same period of the previous year.

Table 1: Consumer Price Index for Main Groups, Malaysia (2010=100)

Table 2: Consumer Price Index for Sub-Groups of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Malaysia (2010=100)

Table 3: Headline CPI and Core Index by Main Groups, Malaysia (2010=100)

Released By:

DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
24 March 2017

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