Malaysia inflation rate: 1.8% in September 2026
Prices in Malaysia were 1.8% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier (headline Consumer Price Index, year on year). Against August 2026, prices rose 0.1%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) Consumer Price Index (cpi_headline) via data.gov.my, data as of September 2026.
Inflation rate, last 24 months
| Month | Year on year | CPI (2010 = 100) |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | +1.8% | 137.6 |
| August 2026 | +1.9% | 137.5 |
| July 2026 | +1.8% | 137.1 |
| June 2026 | +1.9% | 137.1 |
| May 2026 | +2.0% | 137.1 |
| April 2026 | +1.9% | 136.9 |
| March 2026 | +1.7% | 136.4 |
| February 2026 | +1.4% | 136.0 |
| January 2026 | +1.6% | 135.7 |
| December 2025 | +1.6% | 135.5 |
| November 2025 | +1.4% | 135.1 |
| October 2025 | +1.3% | 135.1 |
| September 2025 | +1.5% | 135.2 |
| August 2025 | +1.3% | 134.9 |
| July 2025 | +1.2% | 134.7 |
| June 2025 | +1.1% | 134.5 |
| May 2025 | +1.2% | 134.4 |
| April 2025 | +1.4% | 134.3 |
| March 2025 | +1.4% | 134.1 |
| February 2025 | +1.5% | 134.1 |
| January 2025 | +1.7% | 133.6 |
| December 2024 | +1.7% | 133.4 |
| November 2024 | +1.8% | 133.3 |
| October 2024 | +1.9% | 133.4 |
Malaysia inflation rate by year
- Average of the yearly rates for the last 10 years (2016 to 2025): 1.8%.
- Average of the yearly rates from 1981 to 2025: 2.7%.
- Highest year: 1981 (10.0%). Lowest year: 2020 (-1.1%).
Each yearly rate is the one DOSM publishes (cpi_annual_inflation): the change in a year's average CPI against the year before. The latest year shown is 2025.
| Year | DOSM's published yearly rate |
|---|---|
| 2025 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | +3.8% |
| 2016 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | +3.1% |
| 2013 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | +3.2% |
| 2010 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | +5.4% |
| 2007 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | +3.0% |
| 2004 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | +1.8% |
| 2001 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | +5.2% |
| 1997 | +2.8% |
| 1996 | +3.3% |
| 1995 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | +3.9% |
| 1993 | +3.5% |
| 1992 | +4.6% |
| 1991 | +4.4% |
| 1990 | +3.1% |
| 1989 | +3.0% |
| 1988 | +2.5% |
| 1987 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | +3.4% |
| 1983 | +4.0% |
| 1982 | +5.5% |
| 1981 | +10.0% |
Core inflation
Core inflation was 1.7% in September 2026, against 1.8% for headline inflation in the same month. Core inflation leaves out volatile fresh food and prices set by the government, so it shows the underlying trend.
Source: DOSM core inflation (cpi_core_inflation), year on year, via data.gov.my.
| Month | Core | Headline |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | +1.7% | +1.8% |
| August 2026 | +1.7% | +1.9% |
| July 2026 | +1.8% | +1.8% |
| June 2026 | +1.9% | +1.9% |
| May 2026 | +2.0% | +2.0% |
| April 2026 | +2.0% | +1.9% |
| March 2026 | +2.1% | +1.7% |
| February 2026 | +2.0% | +1.4% |
| January 2026 | +2.3% | +1.6% |
| December 2025 | +2.3% | +1.6% |
| November 2025 | +2.2% | +1.4% |
| October 2025 | +2.2% | +1.3% |
| September 2025 | +2.1% | +1.5% |
| August 2025 | +2.0% | +1.3% |
| July 2025 | +1.8% | +1.2% |
| June 2025 | +1.8% | +1.1% |
| May 2025 | +1.8% | +1.2% |
| April 2025 | +2.0% | +1.4% |
| March 2025 | +1.9% | +1.4% |
| February 2025 | +1.9% | +1.5% |
| January 2025 | +1.8% | +1.7% |
| December 2024 | +1.6% | +1.7% |
| November 2024 | +1.8% | +1.8% |
| October 2024 | +1.8% | +1.9% |
Prices for low-income households
Prices for low-income households rose 1.5% in September 2026 from a year earlier, while the headline rate for all households was +1.8%.
Source: DOSM Consumer Price Index for low-income households (cpi_lowincome, 2010 = 100) via data.gov.my. Year on year is worked out from the index.
| Month | Low-income | Headline |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | +1.5% | +1.8% |
| August 2026 | +1.7% | +1.9% |
| July 2026 | +1.6% | +1.8% |
| June 2026 | +1.3% | +1.9% |
| May 2026 | +1.3% | +2.0% |
| April 2026 | +1.3% | +1.9% |
| March 2026 | +1.2% | +1.7% |
| February 2026 | +1.1% | +1.4% |
| January 2026 | +1.2% | +1.6% |
| December 2025 | +1.1% | +1.6% |
| November 2025 | +1.0% | +1.4% |
| October 2025 | +1.0% | +1.3% |
| September 2025 | +1.1% | +1.5% |
| August 2025 | +0.9% | +1.3% |
| July 2025 | +0.8% | +1.2% |
| June 2025 | +1.0% | +1.1% |
| May 2025 | +1.0% | +1.2% |
| April 2025 | +1.2% | +1.4% |
| March 2025 | +1.3% | +1.4% |
| February 2025 | +1.4% | +1.5% |
| January 2025 | +1.4% | +1.7% |
| December 2024 | +1.6% | +1.7% |
| November 2024 | +1.6% | +1.8% |
| October 2024 | +1.7% | +1.9% |
Inflation by group, September 2026
Year-on-year change in each spending group, highest first.
| Group | Year on year |
|---|---|
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | +2.8% |
| Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services | +2.8% |
| Transport | +2.5% |
| Restaurants and accommodation services | +2.2% |
| Education services | +2.1% |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +1.8% |
| Information and communication | +1.8% |
| All groups (headline) | +1.8% |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | +1.4% |
| Health | +1.4% |
| Insurance and financial services | +1.2% |
| Recreation, sport and culture | +1.2% |
| Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance | +0.3% |
| Clothing and footwear | +0.2% |
What has the rise meant for your ringgit?
Work out what any amount from a past year is worth now with the inflation calculator, or see whether your pay kept up with the real salary calculator.
RM100 in past years
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980
Official source, coverage and how this is calculated: see our data methodology →