Import prices rise for seventh straight month as raw material costs climb: Korea's central bank

Import prices increased for the seventh consecutive month in January, despite a decline in global oil prices and the stronger local currency, due largely to an increase in prices of raw materials, central bank data showed Friday.

2026-02-13

Gov't launches task force to manage prices directly affecting people's livelihoods

The government on Wednesday launched a ministerial-level task force aimed at stabilizing consumer prices, particularly those directly affecting people's livelihoods, such as foodstuffs.

2026-02-11

Inflation expected to stay around 2% target this month: BOK

The central bank on Tuesday projected inflation to remain broadly stable around its 2 percent target this month while calling for close monitoring amid heightened volatility in global oil prices and the foreign exchange market.

2026-02-03

Consumer prices rise 2% in January, slowest pace in 5 months

Korea's consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in five months in January, partly helped by the steady prices of petroleum products, government data showed Tuesday.

2026-02-03

52 executives indicted for fixing prices of flour, sugar, electrical parts

The prosecution said Monday it has indicted 52 executives at a dozen companies since last September on charges of collusion in fixing flour and sugar prices, as well as for rigging bids for electrical components.

2026-02-02

BOK holds benchmark interest rate at 2.5% on weakening won, rising home prices

The Bank of Korea (BOK) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent on Thursday, citing continued pressure from the weakening won and rising home prices in Seoul.

2026-01-15

'Petflation' expected to worsen in 2026, though gov't plans to offer owners financial support

As more Koreans welcome pets into their homes, a new kind of inflation is hitting households — and it barks. The rising cost of raising pets is squeezing wallets in a phenomenon dubbed “petflation,” a portmanteau of “pet” and “inflation.”

2026-01-10

Inflation where it really hurts

The Ministry of Data and Statistics said the same day that the consumer price index (CPI) for necessities, including food and housing costs, rose 2.4 percent in 2025 from a year earlier.

2026-01-01

Korea expands energy bill relief as inflation pressures persist

Korea’s consumer inflation slowed to 2.1 percent last year, the weakest pace in five years, official data showed on Wednesday, though rising food and energy prices driven by a weak won continued to strain household budgets.