<Anchor>
Consumer prices rose 2% for the third consecutive month. Agricultural and fishery products led the price increase, with eggs rising by more than 50%.
This is reporter Hyung-woo Hyung.
<Reporter>
Consumer prices rose 2.4% last month, recording an increase of 2% for the third month in a row.
The consumer price inflation rate increased from January of this year, rose to the 2% level for the first time in April, and then reached 2.6% in May, the highest rate of increase in nine years and one month.
Last month, the increase decreased to 2.4%, but it was still in the 2% range.
Livestock and fishery products rose 10.4%, and eggs, in particular, surged 54.9% due to a shortage of laying hens in the aftermath of avian influenza.
Agricultural products led the rise in consumer prices, with garlic rising 48.7% and red pepper powder 35%.
Industrial products rose 2.7%, with diesel at 22.4% and gasoline at 19.8%, leading the rise in industrial products.
Public services fell 0.6% due to policies such as free education, but personal services rose 2.5%.
In particular, the price of food service increased by 2.3%, the highest in two years and three months.
As jeonse increased by 1.9% and monthly rent by 0.8%, rent rose the most since November 2017.
According to the National Statistical Office, "the economy is recovering and the number of vaccinations is expanding, and consumer sentiment has improved, so personal service prices are likely to continue to rise."
However, as the price of livestock and fishery products is slowing and international oil prices are not expected to increase, the inflation rate is expected to stabilize in the second half of the year.