The department attributed the increase in inflation year-on-year to increases in several key categories, including restaurant and accommodation services (3.2%); personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (3.2%); housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (3.1%); and recreation, sports and culture (2.0%).

While the other main groups recorded an increase, the rate did not go above the overall inflation rate of 1.9%, it said in a statement.

Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin said the food and beverages group, which contributes 29.8% of the total CPI weight, increased by 1.6% in August over the same month last year, but was unchanged from July 2024.

Additionally, the inflation for personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services stood at 3.2% in August, the same rate as in July.

As for state-level inflation, Uzir said most of the states recorded increases below the national inflation level of 1.9%, except for four states – Penang (3.3%), Pahang (2.8%), Sarawak (2.5%) and Selangor (2.3%).

“All states registered an increase in the inflation of food and beverages with the highest rate recorded by Selangor (3%), followed by Penang (2.7%), Sarawak (2.0%), Pahang (1.9%), Putrajaya (1.8%) and Terengganu (1.6%),” he said.