Headline inflation climbed to 1.9% in April 2026, up from 1.7% in March, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the highest reading since October 2024.

Transport Led The Rise

Transport prices rose 4.1% year on year, up from 1.6% in March and the second monthly increase after falling 0.7% in February. 

RON97 and diesel drove the increase, with RON97 averaging around RM4.90 per litre by end-April compared with roughly RM3.28 a year earlier, while diesel in Peninsular Malaysia ranged between RM5.12 and RM6.02 per litre against RM2.98 in April 2025. If you are on RON95 under the BUDI95 programme, the subsidised rate stayed at RM1.99 per litre, so your fuel costs were not affected.

Transport was the steepest mover, but most other categories also rose, our table shows the rise in prices by Industry Category

Food Inflation Held At 1.2%

If you eat out regularly, you’d have noticed the increases. Nasi campur rose 3.4%, roti canai climbed 2.8%, and cooked fish dishes were up 2.7%. Food at home recorded no change compared with a year ago, and standard chicken averaged RM10.39 per kilogramme nationally, slightly lower than RM10.59 in March.

For households earning RM3,000 a month, food inflation ran at just 0.6% in April, well below the national 1.2%. Cheaper vegetables and stable chicken prices kept food costs lower for this group, though overall inflation for the same bracket came in at 1.3%. Core inflation, which strips out volatile fresh food and government-administered prices, came in at 2.0% in April, down from 2.1% in March.

Seven States Exceed National Price Rise Rates Breakdown

Most states recorded inflation below the national rate of 1.9%, with Sarawak posting the lowest at 0.4%. Seven states exceeded the national rate:

Over January to April 2026, headline inflation averaged 1.7%, up from 1.5% over the same period in 2025, driven mainly by Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 6.3%, Insurance and Financial Services at 5.0%, and Education at 2.7%. DOSM publishes the May 2026 data in June.

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Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

About THE AUTHOR

Iman Aminuddin

Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

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