South Korea Inflation Rises In March

(RTTNews) - South Korea's consumer price inflation rose slightly in March, data from Statistics Korea showed on Wednesday.

The consumer price index grew 2.1 percent on a yearly basis in March, faster than the 2.0 percent increase in February. Inflation was forecast to remain unchanged at 2.0 percent.

Excluding food and energy, core inflation rose to 1.9 percent from 1.8 percent.

Month-on-month, overall consumer prices gained at a slower pace of 0.2 percent after February's 0.3 percent rise. Core consumer prices also rose 0.2 percent but it was faster than the 0.1 percent increase in February.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices moved up 2.4 percent and education cost climbed 2.9 percent. The index for restaurants and hotels and miscellaneous goods and services grew 3.0 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.