South Korea Producer Inflation Hits 19-Month High in February

South Korea’s producer prices rose 2.4% year-on-year in February 2026, accelerating from January’s pace and marking the strongest increase since July 2024, as price pressures remained broad-based across key categories. Costs increased for services (3.2% vs 2.6% in January), manufacturing (2.3% vs 1.8%) and agricultural, forestry and marine products (4.5% vs 2.4%), reflecting a sharp rebound in farm-related prices. By contrast, prices for electricity, gas and water remained in contraction at -1.1%, extending the decline from -1.3% previously. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.6% in February, matching the 0.6% increase in January.

South Korea’s producer prices rose 1.9% year-on-year in January 2026, matching December’s pace and marking the strongest increase since July 2024, as price pressures remained broad-based across key categories. Costs increased for services (2.6% vs 2.2% in December), manufacturing (1.8% vs 1.9%) and agricultural, forestry and marine products (2.4% vs 6.1%), reflecting a sharp rebound in farm-related prices. By contrast, prices for electricity, gas and water remained in contraction at -1.2%, extending the decline from -1.3% previously. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.6% in January, accelerating from a 0.4% increase in December.

South Korea’s producer prices rose 1.9% year-on-year in December 2025, matching November’s pace and marking the strongest increase since July 2024, as price pressures remained broad-based across key categories. Costs increased for services (2.2% vs 2.2% in November), manufacturing (1.9% vs 1.9%) and agricultural, forestry and marine products (6.1% vs 5.5%), reflecting a sharp rebound in farm-related prices. By contrast, prices for electricity, gas and water remained in contraction at -1.4%, extending the decline from -1.2% previously. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.4% in December, accelerating from a 0.3% increase in November.