Bank Negara Malaysia is set to release January's CPI data this week, with the market keenly watching its implications for future monetary policy. Analysts anticipate inflation to remain moderate, but core inflation trends will be closely monitored for any upside surprises.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23, 2026 – Market attention this week will be squarely on Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) as it prepares to release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for January 2026. Economists generally anticipate the headline inflation rate for January to hover between 2.0% and 2.2%, consistent with levels seen towards the end of last year. However, the market is more keenly focused on the trajectory of core inflation, which could provide clues on whether BNM might consider adjusting the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) in the second half of the year. While the prevailing consensus is for the OPR to remain at 3.00%, any higher-than-expected inflation figures could prompt BNM to adopt a more cautious stance. Investors will scrutinize BNM's accompanying statement for its latest assessment of economic growth and price stability.
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