THE Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April continues to be higher at 4.4% compared to a year ago mainly due to a 16.7% jump in the transport index.

This, however, is lower than the previous month’s 5.1% increase. Last year’s April CPI was 2.1%.

The monthly Department of Statistics Malaysia’s report on CPI recorded increases for Transport (+16.7%), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+4.1%), Recreation Services & Culture (+3%), Health (+2.8%), Restaurants and Hotels (+2.4%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.2%).

The transport group index showed the highest jump of 16.7% compared due to the average price of petrol.

One litre of RON95 petrol was RM2.21 in April 2017 compared to RM1.70 in April 2016. Taking RON97 into factor, the average price increased to RM2.48 in April 2017 compared to RM2.05 in April 2016.

Fuels & lubricants for personal transport equipment also accounted for a 7.8% of the CPI weights.

Looking at the CPI index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages which accounted for 30.2% in the CPI weights, it has increased 4.1% this month.

The increase was caused by the rise of a food sub-group which comprised of Oils and Fats (+39.1%), Fish & Seafood (+6.2%), Meat (+4.2%), Fruits (+2.4 %) and Vegetables (+2.3%).

As for the Food Away from Home index, it continued to rise in April 2017 with an increase of 4.9%.

The increase in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages index was reflected in most states in Malaysia, especially highly-urbanised ones such as the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Johor and Malacca.

These six places recorded higher increases for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages index above the national level index for April 2017 compared to April 2016.

The index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose 5.4% in Malacca, 4.8% in Johor, 4.7% in Kuala Lumpur, 4.7% in Kedah & Perlis, 4.6% in Selangor & Putrajaya and 4.6% in Pulau Pinang.

On a monthly basis, the index for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased 0.1% in April 2017, after declining 0.3% in March 2017.

Meanwhile, the index for Non-Food decreased 0.4% in April 2017 compared with the preceding month.

Looking at the core inflation rate, it has remained stable at 2.5% in April 2017 compared to the same month of the previous year.

Among the major groups which influenced the higher core rate were price increases for Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+4.1%), Recreation Services & Culture (+3.0%), Transport (+3.0%), Health (+2.8%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (+2.7%). – May 17, 2017.