KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's consumer price index in July rose 3.2% from a year earlier, marginally below expectations and easing slightly from a month ago, data from the Statistics Department showed on Wednesday.

The index rose 3.3% in June.

A Reuters poll of 15 economists had forecast the annual inflation rate in July to hold steady at 3.3%.

Last week, Malaysia's central bank said it expects inflation to remain between 3%-4%, with the long-term average at 3%.

The monthly inflation rate has risen sharply since last year after the government cut subsidies, raising the prices of fuel, electricity and sugar. Inflation hit a 32-month high of 3.5% in February before easing slowly in the following months as prices begin to moderate.

JULY 2014  (PERCENTAGE CHANGE YEAR-ON-YEAR)       

Food, non-alcoholic beverages                    3.1

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco                    11.6

Clothing, footwear                                   -0.2

Housing, water, electricity, fuels                 3.2

Furnishings, household equipment             0.8

Health                                                     3.3

Transport                                                5.4

Communication                                       -0.7

Recreation services, culture                        1.9

Education                                                 2.3

Restaurants, hotels                                    5.0

Miscellaneous goods/services                     1.4        – Reuters