KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — Malaysia's consumer price index in November rose 1.8 per cent from a year earlier, the fastest pace in six months, government data showed today.
The figure was above the 1.6 per cent forecast by economists, and the highest since May's 2.0 per cent. October's annual rate was 1.4 per cent.
November's inflation rate was driven by higher food and household expenses, while there were lower transport and communication costs, data from the Statistics Department showed.
Annual inflation reached a seven-year peak of 4.2 per cent in February, before moderating as the effects of a goods and services tax imposed in April 2015 faded.
Last month, Malaysia's central bank said the annual inflation rate in the third quarter was 1.3 per cent. — Reuters
