Kuala Lumpur, 13 August 2026 – Malaysian household spending is expected to remain resilient through the second half of 2026 as wages rise faster than inflation, although higher living costs and the fading effect of festive demand could make consumers more selective.
Headline inflation stood at 1.9% in June, giving households a measure of real purchasing-power growth. Manufacturing wages increased 3.1% year on year in the second quarter, while services wages rose 4.8%. Together with a firm labour market, those gains provide a foundation for continued expenditure on goods and services.
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