KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 22): Malaysia’s inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased 2.2% in September 2021 from a year earlier, led by a rise in the CPI's transport component and as other segments including food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s (DOSM) statement on Friday (Oct 22), the transport group climbed 11%, while the food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels segments increased 1.9% and 0.7% respectively.

For the third quarter of 2021 (3Q21), the DOSM said the CPI increased 2.2% from a year ago.  

On a quarterly basis, the 3Q21 CPI, however, declined 0.4% as compared to 2Q21.

"On a month-on-month comparison, the [September 2021] CPI increased 0.2% as compared to August 2021. The increase was attributed [to] food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.6%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.1%), and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (0.1%),” the DOSM added.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s September 2021 core CPI also increased from a year earlier.

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in the statement that the country's core CPI, which measures all goods and services except volatile items of fresh food as well as those with administered prices, rose 0.6% in September 2021 from a year ago.

In the statement, the DOSM said the CPI without fuel increased 0.8% in September 2021 from the year before.

"The CPI without fuel covers all goods and services except unleaded petrol RON95, unleaded petrol RON97 and diesel,” the DOSM added.

In August 2021, Malaysia’s CPI rose 2% from the year before, according to the DOSM.