Overview

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The overall index for Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased 0.7 per cent in January 2019 to 120.5 as compared to 121.3 in corresponding month of the preceding year. The decrease in the index of Transport (-7.8 per cent) which contributed 14.6 per cent of overall weight was countered by the increase in the index of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.0 per cent) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+1.0 per cent). 

The lower average price of RON 95 in January 2019 which recorded RM1.98 per litre as compared to RM2.28 in January 2018 contributed to the decrease of the Transport and overall index. In addition, the average price of RON 97 decreased to RM2.28 per litre as compared to RM2.55 while Diesel recorded RM2.12 per litre from RM2.31 in corresponding month of the preceding year.

Nevertheless, Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages continued to increase in January 2019 by 1.0 per cent to 132.9 as compared to 131.6 in corresponding month of the preceding year. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages contributes 29.5 per cent of Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) weights. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels also showed an increase by 2.0 per cent, followed by Restaurants & Hotels (+1.2 per cent), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+1.1 per cent) and Education (+0.9 per cent). (Chart 1)

On a monthly basis, CPI also registered a decrease of 0.5 per cent as compared to December 2018.

Chart 1: Consumer Price Index (2010=100): Percentage Change by Main Groups, Malaysia, January 2019/January 2018

Index for Sub-Groups Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The overall index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased 1.0 per cent in January 2019. This was attributed by the food sub-group index of Meat (+2.4 per cent), Fruits (+1.4 per cent), Fish & Seafood (+1.2 per cent) and Milk & Eggs (+0.6 per cent). Meanwhile, the index for sub-group Vegetables decreased 7.9 per cent, followed by Sugar, Jam, Honey, Chocolate & Confectionery (-2.3 per cent) and Oils & Fats (-0.8 per cent).

Among the index of goods which recorded price increases in most states were Eggs (+8.4 per cent), Chicken (+5.3 per cent), Spanish Mackerel (Fish) (+3.3 per cent), Apples (+2.0 per cent), Indian Mackerel (Fish) (+1.9 per cent), Prawn (+1.4 per cent) and Potatoes (+1.2 per cent).

Meanwhile, the index for Food Away From Home increased 3.3 per cent in January 2019 as against January 2018. The rise in the price of Burger, Fried Chicken, Rice with Side Dishes and Food Made from Noodles contribute to the increase of the index of this sub-group.

Table 1: Consumer Price Index (2010=100): Annual Percentage Change by Sub-Groups Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Malaysia, January 2019/January 2018

States Index

All states recorded a decrease between -0.2 per cent to -1.5 per cent in January 2019 as compared to January 2018. However, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur showed an increase of 0.2 per cent as compared to the same month in the previous year.

The increase in the index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages was reflected in most states in Malaysia. Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (+3.7 per cent) and Johor (+1.1 per cent) recorded higher increases for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages index above the national index level in January 2019 as compared to the corresponding month in 2018. Negeri Sembilan, Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya and Pulau Pinang recorded the same rate as the national index level for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages. (Chart 2)

Chart 2: Consumer Price Index (2010=100): Annual Percentage Change for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by State, January 2019/January 2018

Core Index

Core index increased 0.2 per cent in January 2019 as compared to the same month of the previous year. Among the major groups which influenced the higher core rate were price increases for Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.3 per cent), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+1.7 per cent), Restaurants & Hotels (+1.2 per cent) and Education (+0.9 per cent).

Core index excludes most volatile items of fresh food as well as administered prices of goods and services. (Table 2)

Table 2: Consumer Price Index (2010=100): Percentage Change of Headline CPI, Seasonally Adjusted Index and Core Index by Main Groups, Malaysia, January 2019/January 2018

Annex 1: Average Price for Selected Items in Malaysia, January 2019 (RM) 

Released By:

DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
 DrUzir_Mahidin      Dr_Uzir

22 February 2019
 

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