KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumer Price Index rose by 1.5 per cent in August compared to the same month last year.
According to the Statistics Department, the index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose by 19.7 per cent led the increase followed by recreation services and culture (3.6 per cent).
"The overall index is also influenced by the decrease in prices of transport group by 6.7 per cent, communication (-2.4 per cent) and clothing & footwear (-0.6 per cent)."
The index for food & non-alcoholic beverages (weight: 30.2) rose 3.5 per cent on a year-on-year basis in August 2016.
The increase was led by increases in four food sub-groups namely, meat (6.9 per cent), fish and seafood (5.2 per cent), fruits (3.9 per cent) and vegetables (3.1 per cent).