Malaysian Inflation Rises Slightly To 1.9%

(RTTNews) - Malaysia's consumer price inflation eased unexpectedly in October from a 5-month low in the previous month, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday.

The consumer price index, or CPI, climbed 1.9 percent year-on-year in October, following a 1.8 rise in September. Meanwhile, economists had expected inflation to remain unchanged at 1.8 percent.

Data also showed that core inflation remained stable at 1.8 percent.

The annual price growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages accelerated to 2.3 percent from 1.6 percent. Meanwhile, housing and utility costs grew at a steady pace of 3.1 percent.

Transport charges rose at a slower pace of 0.7 percent annually versus a 1.1 percent rise in September.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.2 percent in October after remaining stagnant in the prior month.