Malaysia's consumer price index in July rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier, marginally below expectations and easing slightly from a month ago, data from the Statistics Department showed today.

The index rose 3.3 percent in June.

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

Last week, Malaysia's central bank said it expects inflation to remain between three to four percent, with the long-term average at three percent.

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 percent in February before easing slowly in the following months as prices begin to moderate.

- Reuters