M'sia banks on private consumption to boost economy

Kuala Lumpur

IF sales and promotions spur consumption, Malaysia's economic planners looking to boost domestic demand through extended shopping hours and the like might take heart from strong automotive sales in December.

Vehicle sales remained robust at 55,313 units in the last month of 2014 - 2.1 per cent higher month-on-month and 5.9 per cent year-on-year - despite it being a weaker period seasonally.