South Korea inflation slows to 1.4% in December, lowest in four months

The consumer price index rose 1.4 percent from a year ago, dragged down by falling prices of key items including pork, childcare facilities, medicine and televisions, according to state-run Statistics Korea.

The figure for this month — the lowest since August when it rose 1.2 percent — was well within the central bank's target inflation rate of 2 to 4 percent.

From the previous month, inflation was up 0.2 percent in December.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, rose 1.2 percent from a year ago, compared to a 1.3-percent rise posted last month, and was up 0.2 percent month-on-month.

Bank of Korea policymakers left the key interest rate unchanged at 2.75 percent in a meeting earlier this month, after trimming it twice this year to boost a slowing economy.

Asia's fourth-largest economy expanded at the slowest pace in three years in the third quarter, prompting expectations of a further rate cut early next year.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	South Korea's new leader may look to keep chaebols in check

NEXT ARTICLE
Singapore likely in recession as GDP data shows slower growth: analysts

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit