Consumer prices in Malaysia rose 2.3% in April as food inflation accelerated
From Chester Tay
Consumer prices in Malaysia in April rose at a slightly faster pace than in March, as food prices continued to rise due to higher fertilizer prices and logistics costs, as well as shortages. labor on agricultural sites.
The consumer price index rose 2.3% last month from a year earlier, the country’s Statistics Department said on Wednesday.
The Malaysian government said on Monday that the country is imposing a ban on poultry exports from next month in a bid to rein in rising chicken prices.
In April, consumer prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.1%, with meat and dairy prices rising 6.2% and 7.2% respectively, while Vegetable prices increased by 4.5% due to weather uncertainties which affected the maturity of vegetables and caused a drop in supply. , said the statistics service.
Prices were also higher in restaurants and hotels, as well as for household equipment and transport, he added.
April’s CPI reading was in line with the median 2.3% rise estimated by eight economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as fresh food and government-controlled goods, was 2.1% in April, down from 2.0% in March. On a monthly basis, the April CPI rose 0.2% from March.
Write to Chester Tay at chester.tay@wsj.com