South Korea's producer price index (PPI) rose 0.6 percent from a month earlier to 122.56 in February, marking the sixth consecutive monthly increase due to higher agricultural costs and global oil prices, Bank of Korea data showed. A key gauge of future consumer inflation, the index was up 2.4 percent year-on-year, the fastest growth since July 2024.
The Bank of Korea released the preliminary data on Tuesday, confirming producer prices have climbed steadily since September 2025.
An Ruwaito ta hanyar AI Hoton da AI ya samar
South Korea's consumer prices rose 2.2 percent in March from a year earlier, government data showed Thursday. The increase, exceeding the government's 2 percent inflation target, was mainly driven by a surge in global oil prices due to prolonged Middle East tensions. It marks the steepest rise since December's 2.3 percent, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.
South Korea's producer price index rose 1.6 percent in March from the previous month, the fastest pace in about four years, Bank of Korea data showed Wednesday. The surge was driven by higher petroleum and chemical product prices amid rising global oil costs. Year-on-year, prices climbed 4.1 percent, the quickest increase since February 2023.
An Ruwaito ta hanyar AI
South Korea's consumer prices rose 2.6 percent year-on-year in April, up from March's 2.2 percent and the fastest pace in 21 months, driven by soaring fuel costs from the ongoing Strait of Hormuz disruption. Government data confirmed the figures.
South Korea's real GDP jumped 1.7 percent in Q1 2026 from the prior quarter—the strongest growth in 5½ years—despite Middle East tensions, easily topping the Bank of Korea's 0.9 percent forecast on robust exports and steady domestic demand. Part of the rebound following 2025's modest 1% annual expansion (see prior article in series).
An Ruwaito ta hanyar AI
South Korea's exports rose 36.7 percent year-on-year to a record $25.2 billion in the April 1-10 period, fueled by strong semiconductor demand. Korea Customs Service data showed imports up 12.7 percent to $22.1 billion, resulting in a $3.1 billion trade surplus.
The South Korean won weakened sharply against the US dollar on Wednesday amid lingering Middle East uncertainties and hotter-than-expected US inflation data.
An Ruwaito ta hanyar AI
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) kept its 2026 growth forecast for South Korea unchanged at 1.9 percent despite the Middle East crisis. The institution raised its inflation outlook for this year by 0.7 percentage point to 2.5 percent, citing rising global oil prices. The Ministry of Economy and Finance said strong exports and effects from a supplementary budget kept the growth outlook steady.