Overview

Summary Findings

Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined 1.4 per cent in September 2020 to 120.1 as against 121.8 in the same month of the preceding year. The decrease in the overall index was attributed by the decline in Transport (-9.9%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (-3.0%) and Clothing & Footwear (-0.6%) which contributed 41.6 per cent  to overall weight.

Nevertheless, Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 1.4 per cent to 135.1 as compared to 133.2 in corresponding month of the preceding year. This group contributes 29.5 per cent of CPI weight. Similarly, Miscellaneous Goods & Services inclined by 2.7 per cent, followed by Communication (1.6%) and Health (1.1%).

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

CPI on monthly basis remained unchanged as compared to August 2020. Nevertheless, there are groups that show an increase namely Restaurants & Hotels (0.2%), Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (0.1%), Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (0.1%), Recreation Services & Culture (0.1%) and Education (0.1%).

Meanwhile, CPI in the third quarter of 2020 decreased 1.4 per cent to 120.0 as compared to 121.7 in the same quarter of the previous year. On a quarterly basis, the CPI increased 1.5 per cent as compared to the second quarter of 2020.

Index for Group Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

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

The index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased 1.4 per cent in September 2020 as compared to the same month of the previous year. Among the subgroup that showed an increase include Vegetables (5.1%), Food products not elsewhere classified (2.7%), Fruits (1.8%), Oil & fats (1.7%) and Meat (1.0%).

Among the index of goods which recorded year-on-year price increase in most states were Ginger (19.5%), Small onion (16.4%), Dried chilly (14.6%) and Big onion (14.2%).

The index for Food away from Home increased 1.9 per cent in September 2020 as against September 2019. The increase in price of Cooked beef, Cooked fish and Nasi lemak contribute to the increase of the index of this subgroup.

Consumer Price Index by State 

The index for all states decreased between -0.8 to -2.2 per cent in September 2020 as compared to September 2019. The highest decrease was recorded by Melaka (-2.2%), Sabah & Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan (-2.2%) and Kedah & Perlis (-2.2%). It was followed by Sarawak (-2.1%), Negeri Sembilan (-1.9%) and Johor (-1.9%).

However, all states registered an increase in the index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages. The highest increase was recorded by Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya (2.4%), followed by Terengganu (1.6%), Johor (1.5%) and Perak (1.5%).

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

CPI without Fuel 

The CPI without fuel shows a positive rate of 0.1 per cent in September 2020 as compared to September 2019. CPI without fuel covers all goods and services except Unleaded Petrol RON95, Unleaded Petrol RON97 and Diesel.

Chart 3: Percentage Change of CPI without Fuel, Jan 2019 - September 2020

Core Index

Core index rose 1.0 per cent in September 2020 as compared to the same month of the previous year. Among the major groups which influenced the increase were Miscellaneous Goods & Services (2.7%), Communication (1.6%), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (1.4%) and Health (1.1%).

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

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, September 2020 (RM)

Released By:

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

21 October 2020

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