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| gettyimagesbank |
Consumer prices rose in all 17 provinces and major cities in the first quarter as high fuel costs and the economic recovery have put upward pressure on inflation, data showed Wednesday.
Consumer inflation grew 3.8 percent in the January to March period from a year earlier, accelerating from a 3.5 percent gain over the previous three months, according to the data from Statistics Korea.
Of the 17 provinces and cities, the southern resort island of Jeju reported the sharpest year-on-year rise of 4.7 percent in inflation, followed by a 4.5 percent gain in Gangwon Province. Seoul reported the lowest growth of 3.3 percent.
Korea is grappling with runaway inflation due to the economic recovery and soaring energy prices caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Consumer prices spiked 4.8 percent year-on-year in April, the steepest gain in more than 13 years, and up from a 4.1 percent gain in March.
Meanwhile, services output in all 17 provinces and major cities increased for the fourth straight quarter from January through March amid the economic recovery.
Services production on Jeju rose 10.4 percent last quarter and that in Seoul grew 2 percent.
Retail sales, a gauge of private spending, increased in eight provinces and cities, the data showed.
Jeju reported a 4.9 percent gain in retail sales, led by increased sales at duty-free shops. (Yonhap)
