Malaysia April inflation rate eases to 4.4 pct from 8-year high in March

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Xinhua) — Malaysia’s inflation rate in April has eased to 4.4 percent from eight-year high of 5.1 percent in March, latest figures showed Wednesday.

According to a statement of Malaysian Statistics Department, transportation, food and non-alcoholic beverages which surged 16.7 percent and 4.1 percent year-on-year, respectively, were the two major contributors to the inflation.

The core inflation rate remained stable at 2.5 percent. Year-to-date, the consumer price index (CPI) has risen 4.3 percent from a year earlier.

The overall inflation rate, measured by CPI, is consistent with economists’ views that inflation has peaked in March.

“It (inflation rate in April) is better than my expectation of 4.6 percent, but is consistent with my view that inflation has peaked in March,” an expert from the Socio-economic Research Centre (SERC) told Xinhua.

In the months ahead, he expects inflation to hover around 4 percent or slightly higher amid volatile fuel prices.

“May’s inflation will ease on the back of lower fuel prices,” he said.