PHOTO
A general view of a weekly night market in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia's state of Sabah on the Borneo island February 21, 2009. Inflation in Malaysia inflation slowed to an eight-month low in January, paving the way for another interest rate cut as early as next week to shield the economy from the global downturn. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad (MALAYSIA) - RTXBVZJ
Malaysia's consumer price index (CPI) in November remained at a 4% growth from a year ago, in line with expectations, according to government data on Friday.
A Reuters' poll of 17 economists had forecast a 3.9% growth.
In October, the index had risen 4%, according to the Statistics Department.
A 7.3% rise in food prices remained the main contributor for the rise in inflation this month, chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement.
Inflation in the Southeast Asian nation has been largely contained by record government subsidies and price control measures this year.
Headline inflation has likely peaked at 4.5% in the third quarter and is expected to moderate thereafter, but it will remain elevated, the
central bank said last month. (Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
