by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Jan 2021 has declined by 0.2% year-on-year (YoY) to 122.1 versus the 122.4 recorded in the last year, due to the decline in transport, housing, utilities, gas and other fuels, clothing and footwear as well as restaurants and hotels – all of which has contributed 44.5% to overall weight.

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said out of the 552 items covered in the CPI, 340 items showed an increase during the month versus Jan 2020.

“On the contrary, 138 items declined, while 74 items were unchanged.

“Based on the performance of 552 items by category of goods and services, non-durable goods (296 items) is a category that experienced the most price increased with 208 items, 71 items decreased and 17 items were unchanged as compared to services, semi-durable goods and durable goods,” he said in a statement yesterday.

In addition, food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 1.5% to 136.1 versus to 134.1 in the last year, which contributes 29.5% of CPI weight.

He added that similarly, miscellaneous goods and services inclined by 1.8%, followed by alcoholic beverages and tobacco (0.7%), health (0.7%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (0.2%) and education (0.2%).

“The CPI without fuel increased 0.5% in Jan 2021 to 113.6 as compared to 112.8 in the same month of the preceding year.

“CPI without fuel covers all goods and services except Unleaded Petrol RON95, Unleaded Petrol RON97 and Diesel,” he said.