KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — Malaysia's consumer price index was 2.6 per cent higher in March than a year earlier, government data showed today.

The index's increase was below the median forecast of 3.6 per cent in a Reuters poll, and sharply down from February's 4.2 per cent, a seven-year high for inflation.

March's inflation pace reflected rising costs of alcohol and tobacco products as well as consumer goods, according to data from the Statistics Department.

The inflation rate steadily rose from November to February.

It is expected to be moderate after the first quarter, reflecting a higher base from a year earlier. Malaysia imposed a six per cent goods and services tax in April 2015. — Reuters