When compared with the previous month, CPI for November 2015 increased by 0.6 per cent. Of the twelve major groups, nine recorded an increase, one registered a decline while two remained unchanged. Among the major groups which recorded increases in November 2015 were Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+17.5 per cent); Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+0.5 per cent); and Transport (+0.4 per cent).

Based on a seasonally adjusted term, the CPI for November 2015 increased by 0.6 per cent as compared to October 2015 (Table 1).

Meanwhile, the index of some food items increased in November 2015 compared with the previous month. Among these food items were Dried Chilly (+1.9 per cent); Sardine - Canned (+1.4 per cent); Cuttlefish (+1.3 per cent); Prawns (+1.0 per cent); Hardtail Scad (Fish) (+1.0 per cent); Biscuits – Sweetened (+0.8 per cent); and Indian Mackerel (Fish) (+0.6 per cent).

CPI changes for the period January – November 2015 / 2014

The increase of 2.0 per cent in the CPI for the first eleven months in 2015 was led by increases among the main groups with high weights: Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+3.6 per cent) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.4 per cent). Other increases were Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+12.6 per cent); Health (+4.5 per cent); Restaurants & Hotels (+4.2 per cent); and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+4.1 per cent). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the index of Transport by 4.4 per cent. 

Based on the above changes and the weights assigned to the main groups, the relative contribution to the overall increase of 2.0 per cent in the CPI is shown in Table 3.    

 Table 3 : CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHANGES IN THE OVERALL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BY MAIN GROUPS, MALAYSIA (2010=100)