KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's inflation, as measured by consumer price index (CPI), increased by 2.5 percent in 2021 from a year earlier, driven by rising food and fuel prices, official data showed Wednesday.
The increase was also higher as compared to 0.7 percent recorded during the pre-pandemic year of 2019, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement.
A total of 184 food items of the overall 552 items in the CPI "basket" recorded increases, it said.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the daily lives of the community. However, the government's efforts in implementing the provision of free vaccines to the people have helped restore business confidence and further increase consumer confidence to go out shopping," the DOSM said.
"In addition, the interstate travel bans were lifted and all economic sectors were restored starting Oct. 11, 2021. This contributed to the country's economic recovery, especially in the distribution and retail sectors," it said.
Overall, the 2.5 percent increase was mainly contributed by the index of transport which rose 11 percent, as well as food and beverages that climbed 1.7 percent.
Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance grew 1.6 percent while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels went up 1.5 percent.
In 2021, core inflation was slower at 0.7 percent as compared to 1.1 percent recorded in the previous year. ■