KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 19): Malaysia's annual inflation rate in August likely increased to 1.3%, a Reuters poll showed, slightly faster than the previous month's pace. The pace of inflation probably increased because of higher food prices, though transport costs remained low despite a slight hike in fuel prices, economists said. In July, the consumer price index rose 1.1% from a year earlier, the fifth consecutive month in which the inflation rate slowed. Annual inflation reached a seven-year peak of 4.2% in February, but has since moderated as the effects of a goods and services tax imposed in April 2015 fade. In July, Malaysia's central bank cut its inflation projection for the year to 2–3% from 2.5–3.5%.

Source: The Edge Markets September 19, 2016 06:56 UTC