SEOULpongarcade, Augpongarcade. 13 (Xinhua) -- Price for imported goods to South Korea rose for the second straight month due to the local currency's depreciation versus the U.S. dollar and expensive crude oil, central bank data showed Tuesday.
The import price index increased 0.4 percent in July from a month earlier after advancing 0.6 percent in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
The average won/dollar exchange rate gained to 1,383.38 won per dollar in July from 1,380.13 won in June.
Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 83.83 U.S. dollars per barrel in July, up compared to 82.56 dollars a month earlier.
Price for imported raw materials went up 0.5 percent in July on a monthly basis, continuing to climb for the second successive month.
Import price for intermediary goods, including oil products, mounted 0.3 percent last month owing to higher prices for oil products and computers, electronic and optical devices.
Prices for imported capital and consumer goods were both up 0.3 percent in the cited month.
The export price index added 0.7 percent in July from a month earlier after swelling 0.8 percent in the prior month.■