<Anchor> The



consumer price index rose nearly 5% last month compared to a year ago.

It was the highest jump since October 2008, during the financial crisis.

Gasoline, food, and various service rates have not gone up until utility rates, and this situation is expected to continue throughout this year.



Correspondent Jo Ki-ho.



<Reporter> This



is a large supermarket in Seoul.



Many people hesitate when they see the price tag on imported beef.



[Seungri Lee / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: In the past, imported beef was much cheaper than Korean beef, so I used it a lot.

.]



Imported beef last month increased by nearly 30% compared to the same month last year.



This is a phenomenon that occurred as feed prices rose around the world, transportation costs increased, and the exchange rate jumped.



Consumer prices rose 4.8% in April, the highest since the 2008 financial crisis in 13 and a half years.



Petroleum rose the most at 34%, industrial products rose 7%, and food service prices rose by more than 6%.



[Eo Woon-seon/Statistics Office Economic Trend Statistical Review Officer: The price of industrial products such as petroleum, processed food, and personal services continued to rise, and electricity, gas, and water prices also expanded, showing an increase of 4.8% compared to the same month of the previous year.]



May Inflation is predicted to exceed 5%.



The price of imported raw materials continues to rise due to the Ukraine crisis and the coronavirus lockdown in China, but consumption demand is surging as the distance is lifted.



[Hong Nam-ki / Deputy Prime Minister of Economy: The IMF recently raised the annual price forecast of major countries, and inflation pressure is expected to continue for the time being.] The



government is planning to cut the price of tap water for small and medium-sized enterprises and reduce tariffs on some imported raw materials, There seems to be a limit.



Moreover, if the Bank of Korea chooses to raise interest rates to catch inflation, economic growth may slow down.



(Video coverage: Park Young-il, Kim Min-cheol, video editing: Kim Ho-jin)