In a month when families eat out a lot due to Children's Day and Mother's Day, the price of eating out has not stopped sharply.
According to the National Statistical Office, the price index for eating out last month rose 6.6% from a year earlier, recording an increase of more than 6% for two months in a row.
This is the highest increase since the 7% increase in April 1998.
By item, galbitang rose 12.1%, showing the highest increase, followed by sashimi with 10.9% and gimbap with 9.7%.
Pizza, Jjajangmyeon, and chicken, which are classic Children's Day menu items, also increased by more than 9%, while pork cutlet rose by 7.1%.
As for meat, beef 8.4%, pork ribs 7.9%, and samgyeopsal increased 6.8% compared to a year ago.
Among the 39 food service items surveyed, the prices of 38 items, except for hamburgers, which were offered discounts by large franchise companies, all rose.
The rise in food prices is being affected by the accumulation of increases in material costs such as agricultural, livestock, and processed food, and as demand gradually recovers from the impact of COVID-19.
The sharp rise in international grain and cooking oil prices due to the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine and Indonesia's ban on palm oil exports is also increasing pressure on food prices.
An increase in delivery costs is also considered to be one of the factors driving up food prices.
The National Statistical Office surveys stores with a high proportion of delivery by including the delivery cost in the price of eating out.
(Photo = Yonhap News)