KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 24): Malaysia's inflation as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.5% in December 2017 from a year earlier, mainly on costlier transport besides food and non-alcoholic drinks. Transport cost increased as fuel prices rose, the Statistics Department said.

In a statement, the department said the CPI's transport segment increased 11.5%, while the food and non-alcoholic drinks portion rose 4.1%.

“The average price of 1 litre of RON95 petrol was RM2.27 in December 2017 as compared to RM1.90 in December 2016. As for RON97, the average price increased to RM2.55 in December 2017, as compared to RM2.25 in December 2016. Fuels & lubricants for personal transport equipment accounted for 7.8% of the CPI weights,” the department said.

On a monthly basis, December CPI increased 0.1%. For the full year, the CPI climbed 3.7% from a year earlier, according to the department.

In November, the CPI rose 3.4% from a year earlier, the department said.