Prices for goods and services among South Korean suppliers hit the highest in nearly four years as the scorching heatwave raised farm goods cost, central bank data showed Tuesday.
The producer price index stood at 104.83 in July, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
It marked the highest since September 2014 as the unusually strong heatwave pulled up agricultural product price, which jumped 7.9 percent in July from a month ago.
Prices for napa cabbage and white radish soared 90.2 percent and 60.6 percent, respectively. Spinach price more than doubled in July from the prior month, with the watermelon price posting a double-digit increase.
Prices for agricultural, livestock and fishery products gained 4.3 percent in July from a month earlier.
Industrial goods price rose 0.3 percent in the cited period amid higher global crude oil price. Prices for electricity, tap water and natural gas was unchanged.
Services price inched up 0.1 percent last month on the launch of the summer vacation season, which led to a hike in prices for hotel, lodging and transport services.
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