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South Korea Inflation Climbs to 6-Month High
Consumer prices in South Korea rose 0.7 percent year-on-year in December 2019, after rising 0.2 percent in the previous month and slightly above market forecasts of a 0.6 percent increase. It was the highest inflation rate in six months mainly due to cost of housing & utilities (1.3 percent), transport (2.2 percent), and restaurants & hotels (1.0 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rebounded 0.2 percent after declining 0.6 percent in November. The average rate of inflation for all of 2019 eased to a record-low 0.4 percent from 1.5 percent in 2018, raising expectations that the central bank might cut rates further in 2020.
Published on 2019-12-30

South Korea November Inflation Rate at 4-Month High
Consumer prices in South Korea rose 0.2 percent year-on-year in November 2019, after being unchanged in the previous month but below market forecasts of a 0.5 percent gain. It was the first increase in consumer prices in four months mainly due to a higher cost of utilities.
Published on 2019-12-01

South Korea Consumer Prices Flat in October
Consumer prices in South Korea remained unchanged year-on-year in October 2019, following a 0.4 percent decline in the previous month and compared with market expectations of a 0.3 percent drop. Prices avoided a second month of deflation after booking in September the first fall since data releases began in 1965, as higher utility prices offset decreased prices of agricultural products.
Published on 2019-10-31

South Korea Posts Deflation for the First Time on Record
Consumer prices in South Korea fell 0.4 year-on-year in September 2019, following a flat reading in the previous month and compared with market expectations of a 0.3 percent decline. That was the first deflation since data releases began in 1965, mainly due to a plunge in cost of farm products as improved weather boosted production.
Published on 2019-09-30

South Korea Inflation Hits Record Low
Consumer prices in South Korea were unchanged year-on-year August 2019, easing from a 0.6 percent gain in the previous month and missing market expectations of a 0.3 percent rise. That was the lowest inflation rate since the country began releasing inflation data in 1965 due mainly to a plunge in fresh foods prices. The core CPI, which excludes oil and agricultural products, advanced 0.9 percent in August, below 1 percent in July. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.2 percent in August, reversing a 0.3 percent fall in July, but missing expectations of a 0.5 percent increase.
Published on 2019-09-02

South Korea Inflation Rate Edges Down to 0.6% YoY
South Korea's annual inflation rate edged down to 0.6 percent in June 2019 from 0.7 percent in the previous month and compared to market expectations of a 0.85 percent increase. Slower inflation was mainly explained by a 1.6 percent decline in the fresh food index (vs 0.0 in May). In contrast, prices for utilities climbed 2.0 percent after a 1.3 percent climb. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.3 percent, after declining 0.2 percent in the previous month and compared to market forecasts of an unchanged reading.
Published on 2019-07-31

South Korea Annual Inflation Rate Steady at 0.7% in June
South Korea's annual inflation rate was unchanged at 0.7 percent in June 2019, below market expectations of a 1.0 percent increase. Cost of food and non-alcoholic beverage rose the most in five months while transport prices fell further. On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined 0.2 percent, after increasing 0.2 percent in the previous month and compared to market forecasts of a 0.1 percent gain.
Published on 2019-07-01

South Korea Inflation Rate Climbs to 4-Month High
South Korea's annual inflation rate edged up to 0.7 percent in May 2019 from 0.6 percent in the previous month but below market expectations of 0.8 percent. It was the highest inflation rate in four months, as prices of fresh foods declined at a softer rate of 2.1 percent compared to 2.7 percent in April. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.2 percent, after rising 0.4 percent in the previous month and compared to market expectations of a 0.3 percent climb.
Published on 2019-06-03

South Korea Annual Inflation Rate at 3-Month High in April
South Korea's annual inflation rate rose to 0.6 percent in April of 2019 from 0.4 percent in the previous month and above market expectations of 0.4 percent. It was the highest inflation rate in three months, amid a faster rise in prices of food and a softer decline in cost of transport. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.4 percent, rebounding from a 0.2 percent drop in March, and higher than market consensus of a 0.2 percent rise.
Published on 2019-05-01

South Korea Inflation Rate Slows to 31-Month Low in March
South Korea's annual inflation rate fell to 0.4 percent in March of 2019 from 0.5 percent in the previous month, well below market expectations of 0.9 percent. It was the lowest inflation rate since August 2016, mainly driven by a slowdown in cost of housing and utilities. On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined 0.2 percent, following a 0.4 percent increase a month earlier, and compared to market consensus of a 0.4 percent gain.
Published on 2019-04-01

South Korea Inflation Rate at 2-1/2-Year Low in February
South Korea's annual inflation rate fell to 0.5 percent in February of 2019 from 0.8 percent in the previous month, matching market expectations. It was the lowest inflation rate since August 2016, mainly due to a slowdown in cost of fresh food prices. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4 percent, following a 0.1 percent fall in a month earlier, and compared to market consensus of a 0.5 percent gain.
Published on 2019-03-05

South Korea January Inflation Rate Lowest since 2016
South Korea's annual inflation rate fell to 0.8 percent in January of 2019 from 1.3 percent in the previous month and below market expectations of 1.3 percent. It was the lowest inflation rate since August 2016, as cost slowed for food and housing & utilities, while cost of transport declined at a faster rate. On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined unexpectedly by 0.1 percent, following a 0.3 percent fall in a month earlier, and missing market consensus of a 0.4 percent increase.
Published on 2019-01-31

South Korea Inflation Rate at 9-Month Low of 1.3%
South Korea's annual inflation rate eased to 1.3 percent in December of 2018 from 2.0 percent in the previous month and below market expectations of 1.7 percent. It was the lowest inflation rate since March, amid a softer rise in cost of housing & utilities and food while transport prices declined. On a monthly basis, prices went down 0.3 percent after a 0.7 percent fall in November.
Published on 2018-12-30

South Korea Inflation Rate Steady at 2% in November
South Korea's annual inflation rate was at 2.0 percent in November of 2018, unchanged from the previous month and below market expectations of 2.2 percent. It remained the highest inflation rate since September last year, amid a faster rise in cost of housing & utilities while inflation slowed for food and transport. On a monthly basis, prices dropped 0.7 percent after a 0.2 percent decline in October.
Published on 2018-12-04

South Korea Inflation Rate Edges Up to 13-Month High
South Korea's annual inflation rate edged up to 2.0 percent in October of 2018 from 1.9 percent in the previous month and well above market expectations of 1.7 percent. It was the highest inflation in thirteen months, mainly nudged by fresh food (+10.5 percent vs +8.6 percent in September). Also, the inflation rate for industrial products edged up to 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent. In contrast, prices for utilities declined 1.9 percent (vs -1.8 percent), whereas the inflation rate for prices cooled to 1.3 percent (vs 1.4 percent).
Published on 2018-10-31

South Korea Inflation Jumps to 1-Year High
South Korea's annual inflation accelerated to 1.9 percent in September of 2018 from 1.4 percent in the previous month and well above market expectations of 1.55 percent. It was the highest inflation in a year, mainly nudged by agricultural products (+7.9 percent), particularly vegetables (+14.5 percent) due to heavy rain. Also, electricity prices rose 20.2 percent.
Published on 2018-10-04

South Korea Inflation Edges Down to 5-Month Low
South Korea's annual inflation eased to 1.4 percent in August of 2018 from 1.5 percent in the previous three months but slightly above market expectations of 1.3 percent. It was the lowest inflation rate since March, as cost of transport rose at a softer pace while cost of housing & utilities fell.
Published on 2018-09-03

South Korea Inflation Rate Remains Unchanged
South Korea's consumer price inflation stood at 1.5 percent year-on-year in July of 2018, unchanged from the previous month and below market expectations of 1.7 percent. Core inflation edged down to 1.0 percent from 1.2 percent in the previous month, with fresh food only rising 0.1 percent following a 2.0 percent advance in the previous month. In addition, prices of utilities fell 1.8 percent after plunging 3.3 percent in June. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2 percent after a 0.2 percent decline in the previous month.
Published on 2018-07-31

South Korea Inflation Rate Stays at 1.5% YoY
South Korea's consumer price inflation stood at 1.5 percent year-on-year in June of 2018, unchanged from the previous month and below market expectations of 1.7 percent. A sharp slowdown in food inflation offset a faster increase in transport prices. On a monthly basis, consumer prices unexpectedly fell by 0.2 percent in June, following a 0.1 percent rise in May and compared to consensus of a flat reading. It was the first monthly decline in three months.
Published on 2018-07-02

South Korea Inflation Rate Slows to 1.5% in May
Consumer prices in South Korea increased by 1.5 percent year-on-year in May of 2018, following a 1.6 percent rise in the previous month. Figure came slightly below market consensus of 1.6 percent, mainly due to a slowdown in cost of housing & utilities and food & non-alcoholic beverages. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.1 percent, the same as in the previous month.
Published on 2018-06-01