KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 ― Malaysia's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.0 per cent in May from a year earlier, but the pace of gains slowed for the third consecutive month, government data showed today.

The figure was in line with the median forecast in a Reuters poll, and down slightly from April's 2.1 per cent rise.

May's inflation was attributed to higher prices of alcohol and tobacco products and food, which were offset by a decline in transport costs, according to data from the Statistics Department.

Inflation reached a seven-year peak of 4.2 per cent in February, but has since moderated as fuel prices have remained low and as the effects of a goods and services tax implemented in April 2015 fade. ― Reuters