Malaysia Clothing And Footwear Fell 1.7%

According to the data released by the Malaysia Statistical Bureau, Malaysia's consumer price index (CPI) in June (2010) was 113.7, an increase of 1.7% over the same period last year (111.8), a 13 month high, which is in line with the market forecast.

Malaysia economists believe that inflation in June is mainly driven by higher food prices.

As the government of Malaysia cuts fuel and sugar subsidies, it is expected that prices will continue to rise in July, and inflation will further rise.

In June, the prices of major consumer goods in Malaysia increased significantly, including alcoholic beverages and cigarettes (up 3%), miscellaneous products and services (up 2.9%), and leisure, services and culture (up 2.6%); other items of price increase included non-alcoholic beverages and foods (up 2%), education (up 1.7%), restaurants and hotels (up 1.7%), health (up 1.6%), pportation (1% rise), real estate, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.9%), and furniture, household equipment and daily necessities (up to 0.6%).

The decline was for clothing and footwear (down 1.7%) and newsletter (down 0.4%).

The cumulative consumer price index for Malaysia between 1 and June is 113.3 points, up 1.4% from 111.7 in the same period last year.