KUALA LUMPUR (April 20): Malaysia's inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), fell 0.6% in March from a month earlier, mainly due to lower transport expenses.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said transport cost fell 4.3% in March.

Compared to a year earlier, the CPI rose 2.6% mainly on costlier liquor and tobacco, according to the department. "The rise in the CPI was due to increases in ten major groups," the department said.

These included a 22.7% rise in liquor and tobacco prices besides the 5% increase in food and non-alcoholic drinks. "In addition, the overall index is also influenced by the decrease in transport group by 8.2%," the department said.

Cumulative three-month CPI rose 3.4% from a year earlier, the department said.

In February, the CPI rose 4.2% from a year earlier.