Surging food prices last month pushed Malaysia's inflation to its highest in 14 months, with the consumer price index rising 4.4% year-on-year, bolstering chances for another 25-basis-point hike in the overnight policy rate by Bank Negara Malaysia at its Monetary Policy Committee meeting next week.
THE retail sector, with sales growth expected at 13.1% this year after falling 2.3% in 2021, is expected to stay buoyant for the time being, amidst risks of high inflation, interest rate hikes and possible global recession.
HSBC has upgraded Malaysia's 2022 gross domestic product growth forecast to 6.6%, from an earlier projection of 5.7%, following a strong GDP print for the second quarter with pockets of resilience seen.
EXPORTS expanded strongly in June, growing by 38.8% year-on-year (y-o-y), but palm oil exports could face stiffer competition from Indonesia and oil and gas shipments could moderate on softening energy prices.
SINGAPORE, Aug 12 Private-sector economists cautiously agree with the government’s assessment that Singapore will avoid a technical recession this year, while adding that.