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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's inflation rose slower at 1.1pct in June 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's inflation rose at a slower pace of 1.1 per cent in June 2025, with the index standing at 134.5 points compared to 133.0 in the same month last year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM). DoSM's June 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) release stated moderation was also reflected in the Producer Price Index (PPI) for local production, which declined by 3.6 per cent in May 2025. Chief statistician, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, said 59.2 per cent of items, or 339 out of 573, recorded price increases. "Nonetheless, of this total, 329 items (97.1 per cent) recorded an increase of less than or equal to 10 per cent, while only 10 items posted increases exceeding 10 per cent in June 2025. "The remaining 192 items (33.5 per cent) recorded a decline, and 42 items remained unchanged," he said. DoSM said the food and beverages group, which contributes 29.8 per cent to the total CPI, rose 2.1 per cent in June 2025. The food away from home subgroup recorded a higher increase of 4.7 per cent, compared to 4.4 per cent in the previous month. However, the food at home category declined by 0.4 per cent, partially offsetting overall inflation, the department said. DoSM also noted that several groups posted the same rate of increase as the previous month: education (2.2 per cent), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (1.7 per cent), and insurance and financial services (1.5 per cent). Meanwhile, restaurant and accommodation services rose at a slower rate of 2.8 per cent in June 2025 (May 2025: 3.0 per cent); recreation, sport and culture at 0.8 per cent (May 2025: 0.9 per cent); transport at 0.3 per cent (May 2025: 0.7 per cent); and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.1 per cent (May 2025: 0.2 per cent). However, some groups recorded higher increases compared to May 2025, namely personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services at 4.2 per cent (May 2025: 3.7 per cent), and health at 1.2 per cent (May 2025: 1.1 per cent). In addition, the information and communication as well as clothing and footwear groups remained in negative territory, registering -5.4 per cent and -0.3 per cent, respectively. Mohd Uzir added that, at the state level, 10 states recorded increases below the national inflation rate of 1.1 per cent, with Kelantan posting the lowest increase at 0.2 per cent in June 2025. "However, five states recorded inflation above the national rate – Negeri Sembilan (1.6 per cent), Selangor (1.6 per cent), Johor (1.5 per cent), Melaka (1.3 per cent), and Kuala Lumpur (1.2 per cent). "All states recorded an increase in food and beverage inflation, except Kelantan (-0.1 per cent). The highest was in Negeri Sembilan at 3.3 per cent, followed by Selangor (3.1 per cent), Putrajaya (2.9 per cent), Terengganu (2.6 per cent), Johor (2.2 per cent) and Labuan (2.1 per cent)," he said. For the second quarter of 2025, Mohd Uzir said the inflation rate rose at a slower pace of 1.3 per cent compared to the same quarter of the previous year (1Q 2025: 1.5 per cent). He said monthly headline inflation increased by 0.1 per cent in June 2025 compared to May 2025. Meanwhile, core inflation rose 1.8 per cent in June 2025, unchanged from the previous month. — BERNAMA
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's Q2 GDP projected to grow 4.5pct
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy is estimated to grow 4.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, slightly higher than the 4.4 per cent recorded in the previous quarter, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The preliminary estimate signals that Malaysia's economic growth momentum remained steady in April and May, with expectations of stronger performance in June. For the first half of 2025 (1H25), the economy is projected to expand moderately by 4.4 per cent, staying close to the government's official target range of 4.5 to 5.5 per cent for the full year. Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the economy continued to expand in the second quarter of 2025, supported by firm consumer demand despite ongoing global challenges. He said domestic consumption remained the key growth driver, backed by public sector salary adjustments, school holidays and seasonal spending during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha. He added that a stable labour market with low unemployment and inflation further strengthened household spending. "On top of that, the continued implementation of cash assistance programmes such as Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) also contributed to sustained household spending throughout the quarter," he said in a statement. By sector, Mohd Uzir said manufacturing showed mixed performance, with growth of 5.6 per cent in April before moderating to 2.8 per cent in May. This was driven by sustained activity in the electrical and electronics subsector and strong demand from domestic-oriented industries, as reflected by the Industrial Production Index. Similarly, wholesale and retail trade sales, which indicate consumer and business activity, rose 4.4 per cent in May, easing from 4.7 per cent in April, mainly supported by steady wholesale and retail trade performance. However, the external sector posted mixed results, with trade activities growing at a slower pace in May due to weaker demand for exported goods. "While domestic spending remains the main pillar of the economy, the external sector faces challenges influenced by tariff-related developments and ongoing global political uncertainties," he said. Mohd Uzir said services remained the key growth driver in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25), recording a 5.3 per cent increase compared with 5.0 per cent in the first quarter, mainly contributed by wholesale and retail trade, transport and storage as well as business services. The manufacturing sector grew 3.8 per cent, supported by the production of electrical, electronic and optical products, vegetable and animal oils and fats, and food processing. The construction sector registered double-digit growth for six straight quarters, rising 11 per cent, driven mainly by non-residential buildings and special trades activities. The agriculture sector increased 2.0 per cent, fuelled by the palm oil subsector.
Barnama
7 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia 2Q GDP Forecast To Expand 4.5 Pct, Fuelled By Robust Domestic Demand -- DOSM
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's economy is forecast to grow by 4.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q 2025) based on advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates, slightly outpacing previous quarter's 4.4 per cent. Growth is expected to be driven by robust domestic demand amid global headwinds, according to the Statistics Department Malaysia (DOSM). In a statement today, DOSM said growth momentum was sustained in April and May, with a stronger performance anticipated in June. "Overall, the economy is estimated to have grown moderately by 4.4 per cent in the first half of 2025," it said. Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said domestic consumption remained the key driver, significantly boosted by the lingering effects of public sector wage adjustments, school holidays and seasonal spending during both Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha. A stable labour market, together with low unemployment and inflation rates, further reinforced household spending. 'Cash assistance programmes such as Sumbangan Asas Rahmah and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah also contributed to sustaining household consumption during the quarter," he said. Mohd Uzir noted that the manufacturing sector experienced varied performance in 2Q, growing by 5.6 per cent in April and moderating to 2.8 per cent in May. "This growth was largely attributed to sustained activity in the electrical and electronics sub-sector and robust demand from domestic-oriented industries, as indicated by the Industrial Production Index.
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's wholesale, retail trade sales up 4.4pct to RM154.3bil in May: DOSM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's wholesale and retail trade registered a total sales of RM154.3 billion in May 2025, reflecting a 4.4 per cent growth year-on-year (y-o-y), according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). In a statement today, its chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth was primarily supported by the performance of the retail and wholesale trade sub-sectors. "The retail trade sub-sector registered RM67.1 billion in sales, an increase of RM3.1 billion or 4.9 per cent y-o-y. "The wholesale trade sub-sector recorded RM68.2 billion, up RM3.1 billion or 4.7 per cent y-o-y, reflecting steady business activity across supply chains," he said. May's online retail sales showed an increase, with the index rising by 2.2 per cent y-o-y, he said. "However, after seasonal adjustment, the index recorded a month-on-month decline of negative 3.4 per cent," he said. In terms of volume index, he said wholesale and retail trade posted a higher y-o-y increase at 4.1 per cent, driven by the wholesale trade sub-sector, which rose by 5.8 per cent, followed by retail trade with a 3.7 per cent increase. Complementing the trade growth, Mohd Uzir said Malaysia's digital payment transactions recorded a strong y-o-y gain in May 2025. "E-money transactions surged by 70.2 per cent y-o-y to RM21.5 billion, reflecting heightened adoption of digital payments. "Real-time retail payments platform transactions amounted to RM289.4 billion, underscoring the growing demand for instantaneous payment solutions. "Meanwhile, financial process exchange transactions expanded by 21.1 per cent to RM39.2 billion, driven by increased online banking activity," he said. The chief statistician said credit card usage remained stable at RM18.7 billion, while debit card transactions registered an eight per cent growth to RM14.1 billion. "Collectively, these trends highlight the sustained expansion of digital payment channels, in line with evolving consumer preferences and the broader digitalisation of Malaysia's payment infrastructure," he added.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Manufacturing sector sales value touches RM158.7 billion in May
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's manufacturing sector sales value rose 2.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM158.7 billion in May compared with a 4.7% y-o-y growth in April, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the May sales value growth was mainly contributed by the food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector, sustaining the strong expansion with a 13% increase, against April's 10.8% expansion. 'This growth was also supported by the electrical and electronics (E&E) products and the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products sub-sectors, which rose by 5% (April 2025: 9.6%) and 3.7% (April 2025: 4.6%), respectively. 'However, the sales value dropped by 1.1% to RM158.7 billion against RM160.4 billion recorded in the prior month,' he said in a statement. Mohd Uzir said the sales value in the export-oriented industries, which accounted for 71.1% of total sales, grew by 2.7% in May 2025 (April: 5.1%). The performance was primarily due to the increase in the manufacture of vegetable, animal oils and fats by 15.9% (April 2025: 12.2%). Meanwhile, the manufacture of computers, electronics and optical products expanded by 4.9% (April 2025: 10.2%t), and the manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified advanced by 7.7% (April: 9.5%). On a month-on-month (m-o-m) comparison, export-oriented industries rebounded to 0.1% (April: -3.3%). Likewise, the domestic-oriented industries expanded by 1.9% in May, following a 3.6% rise in April. The performance was supported by robust growth in the manufacture of food processing products at 10.5% in May (April: 10%), as well as in the manufacture of basic metals (4.3%) and manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (3.5%). On a month-on-month comparison, domestic-oriented industries declined 3.9%. Mohd Uzir said 2.4 million employees were recorded in this sector in May, on a 0.9% augmentation (April: 1.2%). On a month-on-month basis, the number of employees in this sector marginally decreased by 0.1%. 'Salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector posted an increase of 1.6% (April: 2.4%), amounting to RM8.3 billion in May 2025. Furthermore, the salaries and wages paid improved by 0.2% compared with RM8.3 billion recorded in the preceding month,' he said. Mohd Uzir said that in the first five months this year, manufacturing sector sales value amounted to RM794.7 billion, an increase of 3.8% compared to the same period of 2024 (3.3%). The number of employees increased by 0.9% to 2.4 million persons, while salaries and wages increased by 1.9% to RM41.9 billion. – Bernama
