KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest inflation rate among the other states in the country in March at 0.9% from a year ago, compared with the national average of 0.2%.

The Statistics Department said on Wednesday the higher inflation recorded in Kuala Lumpur was due to a 4.2% increase in  food and non-alcoholic beverages index.

Penang state recorded a 0.6% increase while for Selangor and Putrajaya (0.3%) and Negeri Sembilan (0.3%).

These states' inflation rate surpassed the national consumer price index (CPI) rate of 0.2% in March from a year ago, it said.  However, the 0.2% increase was below a Bloomberg survey of a 0.3% rise.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the increase in the overall index was due to a 2% rise in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas & other Fuels (+2%), education (+1.3%), food & non-alcoholic beverages (+1.1%) and restaurant & hotels (+1%).

“On monthly basis, CPI increased by 0.2% as compared to February 2019. It was mainly supported by the index of transport (+2.6%), miscellaneous goods and services (+0.4%) and furnishing, household equipment & routine household maintenance (+0.3%),” he said.

In the first quarter, the CPI fell by 0.3% from the previous corresponding period due to the decline in the transport index, clothing and footwear and goods and services.