South Korea's January Inflation Accelerates to 2.2% Year-on-Year.

Sejong, South Korea—Statistics Korea data showed on Wednesday that the nation's consumer prices rose 2.2% in January compared to the previous year, accelerating from a 1.9% gain in December.

The consumer price index increased 0.7% month-on-month in January, with a 0.4% rise in the previous month.

The index, excluding food and energy, a key indicator of underlying price pressures, increased 1.9 percent from the previous year and 0.5 percent from the last month.

The consumer price index stood at 115.71 in January, with 2020 as the base year 100.

Miscellaneous goods and services led the monthly gains, rising 2.7%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased 1.2%, while transport costs advanced 1.1%.

Health costs rose 0.8%, and recreation and culture prices increased 0.9%. 

Education, restaurant, and hotel prices increased by 0.4%, while housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices increased by 0.2%.

Prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, clothing and footwear, and communication remained unchanged from December.

The data from Statistics Korea showed the inflation rate remained above 2% at the beginning of 2025, continuing the upward trend seen in recent months.