Malaysia's Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased 1.5% year-on-year to 120.2 in October this year from 122.0 in the same month a year earlier, according to the Department of Statistics.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin was quoted by Bernama as saying that the decline in the overall CPI was affected by the decline in the transport index (-10.2%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (- 3.0%) and clothing and shoes (-0.4%) which accounted for 41.6% of the overall weight.
"Of the 552 items covered in the CPI, 337 items showed an increase in October this year compared to October last year. On the other hand, 150 items recorded a decrease while 65 items were unchanged.
"Based on the performance of 552 items by category of goods and services, non-durable goods (296 items) is the category that experienced the highest price increase of 208 items, 73 items decreased and 15 items did not change compared to the category of services, semi-durable goods and durable goods , ”He said.
However, food and non-alcoholic beverages increased 1.5% to 135.3 from 133.3 in the same month last year.
This group accounts for 29.5% of the overall weighted CPI. In addition, various goods and services also showed an increase of 2.8%, followed by education (0.7%) and alcohol and tobacco (0.5%).
Mohd Uzir added that the CPI without fuel remained at a positive rate of 0.1% last month compared to October of the previous year. CPI without fuel covers all goods and services except RON95 unleaded petrol, RON97 unleaded petrol and diesel.
“The average price of RON95 unleaded petrol showed a decrease last month of RM1.67 per liter compared to RM2.08 in October the previous year.
"In addition, the average price of RON97 unleaded petrol decreased to RM1.97 per liter from RM2.66 and the average diesel price decreased to RM1.72 per liter from RM2.18 in the same month the previous year," he said.
Mohd Uzir said the core index rose 0.8 per cent in October this year compared to the same month last year.
Among the key groups acting as drivers of this increase were the group of various goods and services (2.8%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.3%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.9%) and education (0.7%). %).
The core index covers items excluding fresh food items at the most volatile prices as well as price-controlled goods and services, he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Uzir said the CPI for the period January to October this year was down 1.0% compared to the same period last year.
This decline was affected by transportation (-10.0%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-1.5%) and clothing and footwear (-0.8%).
"Although the annual CPI change decreased, the monthly CPI change increased 0.1% compared to September 2020. This increase was contributed by non-alcoholic food and beverage (0.1%), recreational and cultural services (0.1%) and health (0.1%)," he added. .
The index for all states showed a decrease of between -0.8 to -2.3% for October this year compared to October last year. The highest declines were recorded by Melaka (-2.3%), Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan (-2.3%) and Kedah and Perlis (-2.3%). This is followed by Sarawak (-2.1%), Johor (-2.1%) and Negeri Sembilan (-2.0%).
However, all states recorded an increase in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverage groups. The highest increase was recorded by Selangor and Putrajaya (2.4%), followed by Pahang (1.8%), Terengganu (1.7%), Perak (1.7%) and Negeri Sembilan (1.6%).
