KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 ― Malaysia's consumer price index increased 1.4 per cent in October from a year earlier, slightly slower than the previous month's pace, government data showed today.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast inflation to remain unchanged at 1.5 per cent for the third month in a row.

Data from the Statistics Department showed increase in prices for food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, tobacco and housing, which were offset by lower transport and communication costs.

Annual inflation reached a seven-year peak of 4.2 per cent in February, but has since moderated as the effects of a goods and services tax imposed in April 2015 fade.

Earlier this month, Malaysia's central bank said inflation had moderated to 1.3 per cent in the third quarter. ― Bernama