Malaysia’s inflation remained at 1.7 per cent in January 2025

Malaysia’s inflation remained at 1.7 per cent in January 2025 with the index points stood at 133.6 as against 131.4 in the same month of the previous year. The increase of inflation in January 2025 was driven by an increase in the main groups of Restaurant & Accommodation Services (3.5%); Personal Care, Social Protection & Miscellaneous Goods & Services (3.3%); Recreation, Sport & Culture (1.8%) and Education (1.6%). In addition, Health group (1.2%); Transport (0.9%); Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (0.9%); Insurance & Financial Services (0.6%) and Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance (0.5%) showed a higher increase as compared to December 2024.

Information & Communication decreased to negative 5.3 per cent in January 2025 (December 2024: -5.4%). Clothing & Footwear remained at a negative territory and posted negative 0.3 per cent (December 2024: -0.5%). Meanwhile, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (3.2%) and Food & Beverages recorded a slower increase at 2.8 per cent and 2.5 per cent as against 3.2 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively in the prior month.

Most of the states recorded inflation below the national inflation level of 1.7 per cent. However, inflation for four states were above the national inflation level namely Pulau Pinang (2.4%), Selangor (2.0%), Johor (1.9%) and Pahang (1.9%). All states registered an increase in the inflation of Food & Beverages. The highest rate was recorded by Selangor at 4.3 per cent, followed by Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya (3.5%), Terengganu (3.4%), Melaka (2.7%), Negeri Sembilan (2.7%) and Johor (2.6%). Meanwhile, other states showed an increase below the national inflation of Food & Beverages of 2.5 per cent in January 2025.