Malaysia’s CPI CPI, which measures headline inflation, eased to 0.5 per cent in 3Q18 compared with 1.3 per cent in 2Q. – Bernama photo
THE Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures headline inflation, eased to 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2018 (3Q18) compared with 1.3 per cent in 2Q, said the Department of Statistics (DoS).
Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded a marginal increase of 0.5 per cent due to the tax holiday in 3Q.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in 3Q18, the producer price index increased 0.1 per cent as compared to negative 0.4 per cent in 2Q18.
“The increase was mainly attributed to the higher prices received by producers for goods transacted in mining (30.1 per cent) and electricity and gas supply (0.9 per cent),” he said in a statement today on Malaysia’s Economic Performance report for 3Q 2018.
Meanwhile, employment increased 2.6 per cent in 3Q to 14.9 million based on the Labour Force Survey.
Mohd Uzir said employment in the manufacturing sector rose 1.9 per cent while the salaries and wages for this sector increased 9.6 per cent after registering 10.1 per cent in the previous quarter.
“Simultaneously, employment in the services sector grew 2.7 per cent and salaries and wages grew 3.9 per cent,” he said.
During the quarter under review, the unemployment rate was 3.4 per cent. — Bernama