KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's services sector expanded 8.1 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, with revenue rising to 682 billion ringgit (about 173.65 billion U.S. dollars), driven by resilient consumer spending, tourism activities and growing digital adoption, official data showed Monday.
The sector's strong performance reflected broad-based growth across all segments, supported by sustained domestic economic activities during a festive-packed quarter that included Lunar New Year and Eid al-Fitr, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement.
Higher domestic mobility, vibrant tourism activities and nationwide events also contributed to the sector's momentum, while the continued expansion of e-commerce and technology-based services reinforced growth in digital-related activities.
Wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage, and accommodation recorded the highest growth of 7.7 percent, with revenue reaching 512.3 billion ringgit, supported by steady household spending, festive-related demand and increased travel activities.
The information and communication as well as transportation and storage segment expanded 9.5 percent to 97.3 billion ringgit, underpinned by sustained demand for digital connectivity, logistics and transportation services. ■