Malaysian consumer prices rose 3.5 percent in December from a year earlier, the government said.

Inflation rose to a six-year high of 3.7 percent in August and eased to 3.3 percent in October, but regained its upward trend in November, rising to 3.5.

For all of 2005, inflation rose 3.0 percent compared with a 1.4 percent increase for 2004, with rises in all the main indices except for clothing and footwear, which fell 1.0 percent.

The government in September projected inflation at 2.8 percent for 2005.

Three main groups

The most notable increases over 2005 were in beverages and tobacco, which shot up 10.5 percent for the year, transport and communication with a 4.4 percent rise and food at 3.6 percent, the statistics department said.

Miscellaneous goods and services gained 2.4 percent, furniture, furnishings and household equipment added 2.0 percent and medical care and health expenses rose 1.6 percent.

The three main groups of food, gross rent, fuel and power, and transport and communication collectively accounted for 79.1 percent of the overall increase during the year, the department said.