Malaysia's inflation rate was little changed for a seventh consecutive month in February, with the consumer price index (CPI) up 3.1 percent year-on-year after 3.2 percent in January, data showed today.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices remained unchanged in February from January, the Statistics Department said.

The country's central Bank Negara last month kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.50 percent for the seventh time in a row, citing easing inflation among the reasons.

It said the outlook on inflation was "relatively benign" and that average inflation was expected to be significantly lower than in 2006, which saw consumer prices rise 3.6 percent.

Malaysia's inflation rate reached a seven-year high of 4.8 percent in March 2006 after the country saw a steep rise in fuel prices.

It eased back to 4.6 percent in April and 3.9 percent in May before slowing to 3.3 percent in August, holding steady since then.