KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 21): Malaysia's inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), rose 1.8% in November from a year earlier, mainly on costlier food and non-alcoholic drinks besides healthcare services.

According to the Statistics Department's statement today, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.8% while healthcare prices were 2.5% higher.

"The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded an increase higher than the rate of overall CPI. The increase in the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages was reflected in each state in Malaysia especially those in highly urbanised states such as Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, Pulau Pinang, Johor and also Melaka," the department said.

November CPI's 1.8% on-year rise was faster than October's 1.4% increase, according to the department.

For the 11 months to November, the CPI climbed 2.1% from a year earlier, the department said. In monthly terms, November CPI increased 1% from the preceding month.