Overview

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.2 per cent in March 2020 to 120.9 as against 121.1 in the same month of the preceding year. The decrease in the index of Transport (-8.9%) which contributed 14.6 per cent of overall weight was countered by the increase in the index of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (1.6%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (1.2%). 

The lower average price of RON95 in March 2020 which recorded RM1.74 per litre as compared to RM2.08 in March 2019 also contributed to the decrease of the Transport and overall index. In addition, the average price of RON97 decreased to RM2.04 per litre as compared to RM2.51 while Diesel declined to RM1.89 per litre from RM2.18 in corresponding month of the preceding year.

Nevertheless, Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages continued to increase in March 2020 by 1.2 per cent to 134.1 as compared to 132.5 in corresponding month of the preceding year. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages contributes 29.5 per cent of Consumer Price Index (CPI) weight. Similarly, Miscellaneous Goods & Services also inclined by 2.6 per cent, followed by Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (1.6%), Communication (1.5%), Health (1.4%) and Education (1.3%). (Chart 1)

Chart 1: Percentage Change of Consumer Price Index by Main Group

On a monthly basis, CPI decreased 1.2 per cent as  compared  to  February 2020. The  decrease  was  contributed  by  Transport  (-8.7%) and Restaurants & Hotels (-0.2%).

Meanwhile, CPI in the first quarter of 2020 increased 0.9 per cent to 121.9 as compared to 120.8 in the same quarter of the previous year. On a quarterly basis, the CPI decreased 0.2 per cent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Index for Subgroup Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased 1.2 per cent in March 2020 as compared to the same month of the previous year. The increase was attributed by the subgroup of Vegetables (5.7%), Food Products not elsewhere classified (2.6%) and Oils & Fats (1.4%).

Among the index of goods which recorded price increases in most states were Small Onion (34.6%), Garlic (33.8%) and Big Onion (29.9%).

The index for Food Away From Home increased 1.6 per cent in March 2020 as against March 2019. The increase in price of Nasi Lemak, Fried Rice and Rice with Side Dishes contributed to the increase of the index of this subgroup. (Table 1)

Table 1: Percentage Change of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages Subgroup

Consumer Price Index by States 

The index for all states decreased between -0.1 to -0.9 per cent in March 2020 as compared to March 2019. However, Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur and Pulau Pinang increased 0.3 per cent, 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively as compared to the same month in the previous year.

All states registered an increase in the index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages. The highest increase was recorded by Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya (1.8%), Johor (1.8%) and Terengganu (1.6%) and it surpassed the national index of 1.2 per cent for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages in March 2020. (Chart 2)

Chart 2: Percentage Change of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by State

Core Index

Core index rose 1.3 per cent in March 2020 as compared to the same month of the previous year. Among the major groups which influenced the increase were Miscellaneous Goods & Services (2.6%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (1.9%), Communication (1.5%) and Health (1.4%).

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

Table 2: Percentage Change of Headline CPI, Seasonally Adjusted Index and
Core Index by Main Group

Annex 1: Average Price for Selected Items in Malaysia, March 2020 (RM)

Released By:

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

22 April 2020

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