KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), declined 2.9% in May 2020 from the preceding year, led by the drop in the transport component on lower fuel prices.
Department of Statistics chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement today the transport component fell 20.8%.
“The decrease in the overall index was driven by the decline in transport (-20.8%), housing, water, electricity, gas & other fuels (-2.6%), clothing & footwear (-1.1%) and furnishings, household equipment & routine household maintenance (-0.2%) which contributed to 45.7% of overall weight.
“CPI without fuel was at a positive rate of 0.1% in May 2020 compared with 0.2% for April 2020. CPI without fuel covers all goods and services except unleaded petrol RON95, unleaded petrol RON97 and diesel,” said Mohd Uzir.
In the statement, it states that the index for all states decreased between -1.9% to -3.8% in May 2020 as compared to May 2019. The highest decrease was recorded by Sarawak (-3.8%) followed by Kelantan (-3.7%) and Kedah & Perlis (-3.7%).
“However, all states registered an increase in the index of food & non-alcoholic beverages. The highest increase was recorded by Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya (2.1%), Perak (1.8%), Pulau Pinang (1.7%) and Johor (1.3%) and it surpassed the national index of 1.2% for food & non-alcoholic beverages in May 2020,” Mohd Uzir said.
On a monthly basis, the department’s statement said May 2020 CPI increased 0.3% compared with April 2020.
Between January and May 2020, the CPI decreased 0.7% from a year earlier, according to the department.
CPI dropped for the third consecutive month in May 2020 after March 2020’s 0.2% decline. April 2020 CPI declined 2.9% year-on-year (yoy) which is the sharpest fall recorded since 2010.
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