Malaysia inflation picks up in August , slightly above forecast.

    Malaysia's consumer price index in August edged up to 3.1 percent from a year earlier due to sustained price increases in household expenses despite lower fuel cost. 

    Inflation in August was slighty above a 3.0 percent median forecast by economists in a Reuters poll , but less than 3.3 percent in July.

  Inflation has picked up considerably since a 6 percent cpnsumption tax went into effect in April , but economists expect prices to moderate as fuel costs remain low and the festive season of Eid al-Fitr ended in mid-August.