Malaysia's services activity expands 5.9pct in Q2
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's services activity, as measured by the sector's volume index, rose 5.9 per cent year-on-year to 170.1 points in the second quarter of 2026, driven by stronger wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage, and accommodation activities.
Malaysia's services sector experienced a 5.9% year-on-year expansion in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Department of Statistics. This growth was primarily driven by the wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage, and accommodation sectors. Wholesale trade saw the most significant contribution, expanding 4.9% to 157.1 points, followed by retail trade, which grew 4.2%, and motor vehicles, which increased by 7.4%.
The rise in services activity was fueled by consistent consumer demand, particularly in wholesale and retail trade and motor vehicle sales, along with heightened domestic tourism and increased spending during the festive season compared to the same period last year. Other sectors, including information and communication, transportation, and storage, also showed growth, with the information and communication subsector expanding by 7.6% and transportation and storage by 7.3%.
On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the services volume index increased by 1.3%, while the seasonally adjusted volume index rose 0.9%.
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