Inflation up 1.5% in September

KL skyline — The statistics department said Malaysia’s inflation rose 1.5% in September 2025, with the consumer price index increasing to 135.2 from 133.2 a year earlier. (Envato Elements pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Malaysia’s inflation increased 1.5% in September 2025, with the index points standing at 135.2 as against 133.2 in the same month of 2024, said the statistics department.

Following the release of its Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2025, chief statistician Uzir Mahidin said the increase was mainly driven by a higher increase in the group of personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services at 4.8% as compared to August 2025 (4.0%).

“This is followed by food and beverages at 2.1% (August 2025: 2.0%); housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 1.5% (August 2025: 1.2%); health, 1.3% (August 2025: 1.1%) and transport, 0.7% (August 2025: 0.2%).

“Meanwhile, restaurant and accommodation services at 3.3% (August 2025: 3.5%) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 0.3% (August 2025: 0.4%) recorded a slower increase as compared to the previous month,” he said in a statement today.

He said that 59.9% of items (343 out of 573) recorded price increases.

“Nonetheless, out of this total, 333 items (97.1%) registered an increase of less than or equal to 10%, while only 10 items recorded increases of more than 10% in September 2025.

“The remaining 181 items (31.6%) showed a decline, and 49 items remained unchanged,” he said.

Uzir said that the average price of RON97 unleaded petrol in September 2025 was RM3.19 per litre compared to RM3.15 per litre in August 2025 (September 2024: RM3.28).

“Meanwhile, the average price for diesel in Peninsular Malaysia was RM2.91 per litre compared to RM2.90 per litre in August 2025 (September 2024: RM3.04).

“However, the average price of diesel for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan remained at RM2.15 per litre,” he said.

He also added that, as for inflation at the state level, five states recorded increases above the national inflation level (1.5%), namely Johor (2.0%), Negeri Sembilan (1.9%), Melaka (1.8%), Selangor (1.8%) and Terengganu (1.7%).

“However, the remaining 11 states increased below the national inflation rate, with Kelantan recording the lowest inflation (0.5%) in September 2025.

“In comparison to inflation in other selected countries, inflation in Malaysia (1.5%) was lower than inflation in Vietnam (3.4%), Indonesia (2.7%) and the Republic of Korea (2.1%),” he said.

However, he added that the rate was higher than Thailand (-0.7%) and China (-0.3%).

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Inflation up 1.5% in September

Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin says the increase is mainly driven by a higher increase in personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services.