The consumer price index (CPI) stood at 107.16 in March, up 1.5 percent from the same month of last year, according to Statistics Korea. It was the highest growth since January last year.
The consumer price inflation stayed above 1 percent for the second consecutive month, after hovering in the zero-percent range for four months in a row.
Price for agricultural, livestock and fishery products advanced 13.7 percent in March on a yearly basis due to sluggish harvest and the avian influenza (AI).
Agricultural product price jumped 19.2 percent, and livestock product price picked up 10.2 percent. Price for fishery products added 1.8 percent last month.
Price for industrial products gained 0.7 percent in March from a year earlier amid the expensive global crude oil. It was the first rebound in 12 months since March last year.
Price for electricity, natural gas and tap water declined 5.0 percent in March from a year ago.
Services price increased 0.7 percent last month. Private services price climbed 1.8 percent, but public services prices slipped 2.0 percent.
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