SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Consumer prices in South Korea rose 2.1 percent in September from a year earlier, returning to the 2 percent range after two months of slower growth, according to government data released on Thursday.
The uptick was driven largely by higher costs for processed foods and livestock products, the National Data Office said. The consumer price index climbed to 117.06, rebounding from a 1.7 percent increase in August, when a temporary reduction in telecom fees following a hacking incident at SK Telecom eased inflation.
Prices of processed foods rose 4.2 percent, adding 0.36 percentage points to the overall inflation rate. Bread prices increased 6.5 percent and coffee surged 15.6 percent. Livestock products climbed 5.4 percent, while fishery products were up 6.4 percent.
The living cost index, which reflects consumer sentiment more directly, accelerated to a 2.5 percent increase from 1.5 percent in August.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 2 percent, signaling persistent price pressures despite the recent slowdown in headline inflation.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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