KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Services Producer Price Index increased marginally by 0.3 per cent to 115.8 in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q 2024), compared to a 0.7 per cent increase in 2Q 204, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM).
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the arts, entertainment and recreation index rose 5.4 per cent in 3Q 2024 against 7.7 per cent in the previous quarter, contributed by the other amusement and recreation activities (0.9 per cent).
"The index of accommodation and food and beverage service activities continued to increase by 2.4 per cent (2Q 2024: 2.4 per cent), attributed to beverage service activities (3.7 per cent) and restaurants and mobile food service activities (2.5 per cent)," he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Mohd Uzir said the education index inched up 0.8 per cent, contributed by secondary education (1.7 per cent), while the health index increased by 0.3 per cent.
"Professional and real estate activities indices inclined by 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively," he said.
Conversely, the transport index shrank by 2.0 per cent (2Q 2024: -1.4 per cent), particularly due to passenger air transport index (-8.1 per cent).
"Apart from that, the information and communication index continued to decrease by 0.1 per cent (2Q 2024: -0.1 per cent) due to wireless telecommunication activities index (-0.2 per cent)," he said.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, Mohd Uzir said SPPI increased by 0.1 per cent after a decrease of 0.1 per cent in the 2Q 2024, mainly due to accommodation and food and beverage service activities and arts, entertainment and recreation, where both indices recorded an increase of 0.9 per cent.
Additionally, the education index also increased by 0.2 per cent, while the health, professional, information and communication index remained unchanged.
"However, transportation and real estate activities indices declined by 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively," he added.