KUALA LUMPUR (June 15): Malaysia's inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), rose 2% from a year earlier on costlier liquor and tobacco besides food and non-alcoholic drinks.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said liquor and tobacco prices rose 22.1% while prices for food and non-alcoholic drinks climbed 4.1%.

The department said cumulative five-month CPI increased 2.9% from a year earlier. In monthly terms, May CPI rose 0.3%.

In April, the CPI climbed 2.1% from a year earlier.

May core inflation, which excludes volatile fresh food items and administered prices of goods and services, also rose.

The department said core CPI rose 2.1% from a year earlier as consumers contended with costlier transport besides food and non-alcoholic drinks. The department said the rise in water and electricity expenses also led to the higher core CPI rate.