KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's inflation rate accelerated to 1.9 percent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 1.6 percent in the preceding quarter, driven mainly by higher costs in transport, insurance, and financial services, according to official data released on Friday.
The increase was led by inflation in insurance and financial services, which rose 5.2 percent, followed by transport at 3.6 percent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 2.8 percent, and information and communication at 2.1 percent, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement.
Other categories that recorded higher prices included housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which increased 1.2 percent, recreation, sport, and culture at 1 percent, and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance at 0.4 percent.
The rise in overall inflation was partly moderated by slower price increases in personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services, which grew 4.3 percent, as well as restaurant and accommodation services at 2.6 percent, education at 2.2 percent, and health at 1.3 percent.
On a monthly basis, Malaysia's headline inflation eased slightly to 1.9 percent in June, down from 2 percent in May.
The food and beverages group, which accounts for 29.8 percent of the consumer price index basket, recorded a 1.4 percent increase in June, unchanged from the previous month. ■