Consumer prices hit 26-month high as fuel prices soar

By Kim Yeon-jae Posted : June 2, 2026, 10:44 Updated : June 2, 2026, 10:44
A man fills up a car at a gas station in Seoul on May 5, 2026. Yonhap
SEOUL, June 2 (AJP) - South Korea's consumer prices rose 3.1 percent in May from a year earlier, the Ministry of Statistics and Data said on Tuesday.

Consumer prices, which serve as a key gauge of inflation, rose above 3 percent for the first time in 26 months since February 2024, fueled by sharp increases in petroleum and industrial product prices.

An index measuring the prices of daily necessities also rose to 3.3 percent, the highest level since March 2024, suggesting that households continue to feel the pressure of rising prices.

Petroleum products were a major driver of inflation, with prices rising 24.2 percent year-on-year. Diesel recorded the largest increase at 33.3 percent, while gasoline prices rose 23.1 percent.

Costs in the service sector also rose 2.8 percent from a year earlier. Prices of agricultural and fishery products also climbed 2.2 percent as hot weather constrained supply.

The core inflation measure used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which excludes food and energy, rose 2.5 percent, marking its highest level since February 2024.

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