OCTOBER INFLATION UP 7.6%

October inflation up 7.6% on-yr, down 0.4% on-month

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s inflation rate rose 7.6% in October from a year ago but it eased 0.4% from September due to the reduction in the price of petrol and diesel.

Announcing the details on Friday, the Department of Statistics said the consumer price index for October rose to 114.2 from 106.1 a year ago.

For the January to October period, the CPI increased by 5.5% to 111.2 from 105.4 in the previous corresponding period.

The department said the lower CPI in October when compared with September was the reduction in the price of petrol and diesel announced for the third time by the government effective on Oct 15.

The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for October compared to the same month in 2007 showed a high percentage change of 12.1 per cent, while the index for non-food increased by 5.5 per cent.

For the period of January to October 2008, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as non-food registered an increase of 8.5% and 4.1% respectively.

Compared to the previous month, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.2% while the index for non-food decreased by 0.7%.

Published: The Star Online Friday November 21, 2008 MYT 7:01:00 PM