Malaysia GDP growth ends 2018 on a strong note

February 22, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's GDP growth picked up to 4.7% y/y in Q4 from 4.4% y/y in Q3, bringing full-year 2018 growth to 4.7%.

On the expenditure side, private consumption, which rose 8.5% y/y, was the primary contributor to growth. Meanwhile, a 1.5% y/y decline in 'machinery and equipment' investment weighed on private investment growth, even as weak investment in 'structures' persisted.

On the supply side, the mining sector which had dragged growth lower in Q2 and Q3 rebounded in Q4.

In a research note, ANZ Bank says that, in the bank's view, lower-than-budgetted oil prices and ongoing trade tensions pose the key downside risks to growth.www.live.anz.com(ATI).