South Korea Inflation Rate

Last Release

Oct 31, 2025

Actual

2.4

Units In

2.1

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Dec 01, 2025

Time to Release

26 Days 13 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
32.5 Oct 1980	-0.4 Sep 2019	6.75 %	1966-2025	Statistics Korea

In South Korea, the most important categories in the consumer price index are Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (17 percent of total weight) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (13.6 percent of total weight). Others include Restaurants and hotels (12 percent); Education (11.4 percent); Transportation (10.9 percent); Health (7.3 percent); and Clothing and footwear (6.2 percent). The components with the least weight are Communication at 5.8 percent; Miscellaneous goods and services at 5.4 percent; Recreation and culture at 5.3 percent; Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance at 3.8 percent; and Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 1.24 percent.

Latest Updates

South Korea’s consumer prices rose 2.4% year-on-year in October 2025, surpassing market expectations of a 2.1% gain as a weaker won pushed up energy and food costs, strengthening the case for a rate hold by the central bank. The reading accelerated from September’s 2.1% and marked the highest level since July 2024. Price increases were most notable for miscellaneous goods & services (4.3%), food & non-alcoholic beverages (3.5%), transport (3.4%), restaurants & hotels (3.2%), and furnishings, household equipment & routine maintenance (2.2%). The data underscores policymakers’ cautious stance after keeping rates unchanged for a third consecutive month in October, balancing growth support with efforts to contain inflation expectations. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.3%, moderating from a 0.5% increase in September but exceeding the forecast of 0%.