KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s services producer price index (SPPI) increased by 3.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2026 (3Q 2026), up from 2.9 per cent in the previous quarter, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

DOSM said the arts, entertainment and recreation index increased by 8.2 per cent compared with a 1.6 per cent increase in the previous quarter, driven by other amusement and recreation activities (4.0 per cent).

"The accommodation and food and beverage service activities index rose by 6.5 per cent, following a 6.4 per cent increase in the previous quarter, driven by the restaurant and mobile food service activities index (5.9 per cent) and beverage service activities (2.9 per cent)," it said in a statement today. 

Meanwhile, the transportation index increased by 6.3 per cent, up from 5.6 per cent in the previous quarter, mainly due to a 23.4 per cent rise in the passenger air transport index. 

The education index also recorded an increase of 2.2 per cent, after an increase of 2.1 per cent in the previous quarter, supported by secondary education (2.1 per cent) and higher education (1.6 per cent).

Other indices that registered increases were health (1.7 per cent), followed by real estate activities (1.3 per cent) and professional activities (1.0 per cent).

The information and communication index posted an increase of 0.4 per cent, compared with 0.3 per cent in the previous quarter, due to the data processing, hosting and related activities; web portals and computer programming, consultancy and related activities indices, which increased by 0.8 per cent each. 

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, DOSM said the SPPI increased 0.7 per cent compared with a 1.1 per cent increase in the previous quarter.

"The arts, entertainment and recreation index went up by 3.2 per cent, from a 2.0 per cent in the previous quarter, while the transportation index increased by 1.4 per cent, from 2.0 per cent increase in the previous quarter, mainly supported by the passenger air transport index (7.7 per cent)," it added. - Bernama