SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Price for imported goods to South Korea rose for the fourth consecutive month due to expensive crude oil and the local currency's depreciation versus the U.S. dollar, central bank data showed Friday.
The import price index climbed 2.3 percent in January from a month earlier, continuing to go up since October last year, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
Price for Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 80.41 U.S. dollars per barrel in January, up compared to 73.23 dollars in the previous month.
The average won/dollar exchange rate swelled to 1,455.79 won per dollar in January from 1,434.42 won in the prior month.
Price for imported raw materials advanced 4.4 percent in January on a monthly basis, keeping an upward trend for the fourth successive month.
Import price for intermediary goods increased 1.6 percent last month on the back of higher prices for oil products, chemicals, primary metal products and electrical equipment.
Price for imported capital and consumer goods mounted 0.8 percent and 1.0 percent each in the cited month.
The export price index gained 1.2 percent in January from a month ago after expanding 1.4 percent in October, 1.6 percent in November and 2.3 percent in December last year. ■
