MALAYSIA'S INFLATION IN NOV DOWN TO 5.7 PCT WITH LOWER FUEL PRICES THE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's inflation rate in November
dipped to 5.7 percent compared to the same period last year, a sharper drop than
the market anticipated, with the two reductions in petrol and diesel prices
being the main contributing factor.

When compared to October, the Consumer Price Index (BPI) was down 1.1
percent, said the Department of Statistics in a statement Friday.

The Government reduced petrol and diesel prices on Nov 1 and Nov
18.

The market had expected the inflation rate to be in the six percent plus
range.

The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for November compared to the
same month last year, showed a high percentage change of 11 percent, while the
index for non-food increased by 3.3 percent, the Department said.

Month-on-month, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.3
percent while that for non-food fell 1.9 percent, it said.

On the month-on-month decline in inflation, the Department said the
decreases were shown in three main groups, namely transport (-6.7 percent),
miscellaneous goods and services (-0.8 percent) and communication (-0.1
percent).

For the January-November period, inflation increased 5.5 percent with
all main groups recording an uptrend, except for clothing and footwear as well
as communication which decreased by 0.5 percent and 0.6 percent
respectively.

It said for the period, food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as
non-food registered an increase of 8.8 percent and 4.0 percent
respectively.

It said notable increases among the main groups with "high eights" for the
period were transport (+9.7 percent), food and non-alcoholic beverages (+8.8
percent) with housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+1.6 percent).
-- BERNAMA