Malaysia Inflation Eases To 1.5%, Lowest In 13 Months

(RTTNews) - Malaysia's consumer price inflation eased as expected in February to the lowest level in just over a year, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday.

The consumer price index, or CPI, climbed 1.5 percent year-on-year in February, following a stable rise of 1.7 percent in January.

Further, this was the weakest inflation rate since January, when prices had risen the same 1.5 percent.

Meanwhile, core inflation increased slightly to 1.9 percent from 1.8 percent.

Housing and utility costs rose at a slower pace of 2.3 percent annually in February versus 2.8 percent in January. Inflation based on transportation eased to 0.7 percent from 0.9 percent. Meanwhile, prices for food and beverages grew at a steady rate of 2.5 percent.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices moved up 0.4 percent in February after rising 0.1 percent in the prior month.