SEOUL, KOREA - Korea’s consumer prices maintained a 1-percent-level growth for two straight months. According to the Korea Statistical Office, consumer prices grew by 1.4 percent in December compared to a year ago. On a yearly basis, consumer prices marked a 2.2-percent growth compared to a year earlier.
After hovering at 2-percent level in September and October 2012, consumer prices have fallen to 1-percent level from November. On a month-to-month basis, consumer prices marked a negative growth for two consecutive months but rebounded slightly by 0.2 percent in December.
The core inflation rate, excluding costs of foods and energy goods, registered a 1.2-percent growth from a year before and 0.2 percent from a month ago. The CPI for living necessaries inched up by 0.7 percent compared to a year ago and 0.1 percent compared to a month ago.
enews@hankyung.com
*Article provided by The Korea Economic Daily
http://english.hankyung.com/news/apps/news.viewpopup=0&nid=0&c1=01&newscate=1&nkey=201301011015051