Inflation rate likely up to 4.2% in September

PETALING JAYA: Inflation is said to have accelerated for a second month in September due to higher costs for transport and food.
The Consumer Price Index, the main inflation gauge, is expected to have risen 4.2% in September from a year earlier, according to the median forecast from a Wall Street Journal poll of 10 economists.
The CPI rose 3.7% in August from the previous year, the first acceleration in five months, according to a Dow Jones Newswires article yesterday.
"We believe the rise in fuel prices were the main factor amidst elevated levels of food prices and other essential items," Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, chief economist at Bank Islam Malaysia, was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal.
Issues surrounding the cost of living are expected take the center stage during the presentation of the Budget on Oct 27, he said.
"Perhaps more efforts needs to be directed to curb malpractices among the businesses such as profiteering and hoarding that could contribute to the rise in the cost of living," he added.
The official September inflation data is due tomorrow at 0400 GMT (12pm local time).