-- Malaysia's inflation rose 1.4% in 2025, with the consumer price index increasing to 134.6 from 132.8 a year earlier, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said Wednesday.
The uptick was mainly driven by a 1.6% rise in housing and utilities prices, a 1.2% increase in health index, and a 1.1% rise in recreation and culture, among others.
Among the fast-growing categories, personal care and miscellaneous goods recorded the largest increase at 4.4%, followed by insurance and financial services at 3.4%, restaurants and accommodation at 3.2%, and education 2.3%.
Food and beverages rose 2.1%, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco edged up 0.9% during the year.
In contrast, prices for information and communication declined 4.3%, while clothing and footwear slipped 0.2% in 2025, the data showed.