Editor

Increasing food prices and the consequent decline in food consumption among lower income
households is a worrisome trend in Malaysia. According to Khazanah Research Institute’s
report, a comparison from 2014 to 2016 indicates a stark contrast in the lifestyle experiences
of low-income and high-income households. The quantity of food consumed by lower income
households is declining despite the increase in spending. In contrast, households earning
above RM5,000 manage to substitute the decline in consumption of food at home with food away from home. 1