KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB) and Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest) have projected Malaysia's headline inflation to ease to an average of 1.9 per cent in 2026, while Apex Securities Bhd has a slightly lower forecast of 1.8 per cent.
In separate notes today, HLIB lowered its consumer price index (CPI) forecast to 1.9 per cent from 2.0 per cent previously, citing continued petrol subsidies, electricity bill protections and limited pass-through of higher input costs. PublicInvest retained its revised forecast at 1.9 per cent, down from 2.1 per cent previously.
The analysts said Malaysia's headline inflation, which refers to total price changes in an economy, eased to 1.8 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in September from 1.9 per cent in August. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained steady at 1.7 per cent.
