KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 4 -- Have you ever looked at your grocery bill and wondered why everything feels so expensive, even when official data shows that Malaysia's inflation is low?

If so, you are not alone.

Here is a breakdown from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) on the difference between inflation and the cost of living, why your personal experience might not match the official numbers, and what can be done about it.

This is based on a recent BNM workshop for the media, and other BNM guides over the years.

First, what's the difference between inflation and cost of living?

Inflation is the rate of price change over time. It is measured by the Department of Statistics Malaysia's Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the average price incre...