April CPI seen posting 4.53pc growth
KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is likely to have eased last month after recording a strong 5.1 per cent in March.
An NST Business poll expects the CPI to post a 4.53 per cent growth last month.
The Statistics Department will release the data today.
Standard Chartered Bank economist Edward Lee said transport inflation might have moderated versus in March as domestic fuel prices fell about 4.5 per cent month-on-month last month.
On a year-on-year basis, however, transport likely remained a significant contributor to inflation due to the higher global oil prices.
“Food inflation may have eased slightly as prices fell month-on-month in April, but it also remained a significant contributor on a year-on-year basis.
“We expect the central bank to continue to look past the recent rise in headline CPI inflation, which has been driven by administrative and supply measures, and to keep the policy rate unchanged at three per cent for this year while maintaining its focus on core inflation and growth.” Rupa Damodaran