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Although prices are soaring, the consumer's psychological indicators that prices will rise in the future are also the highest in the past 10 years.
The problem is that if this sentiment spreads, it can raise prices that are already soaring faster and stronger.
This is reporter Jeon Yeon-nam.
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Recently, free food service centers have become increasingly concerned.
This is because the prices are so high that it is difficult to prepare enough food.
[The rice ran out, so I can't give you anything but snacks today.
I'm sorry.] I
've reduced the number of side dishes and even replaced them with cheaper ingredients, but it's not enough to meet my budget.
[Kang So-yeon / Social Welfare Wongak Senior Free Lunch Service Director: I put a lot of shiitake mushrooms in bibimbap, but since the price has risen, I use bean sprouts, lettuce, and carrots instead (I use them). It
hurts.]
Even if the fuel tax is lowered, the national average economic price has surpassed the 2,000 won mark for the first time in history.
In this situation, the sentiment that prices will rise further and inflation expectations rose to 3.3%, the highest in 10 years.
In the future, when prices rise, in order to maintain the standard of living now, workers demand a raise in wages.
Companies also raise product prices, and then prices rise again, and there is a risk of falling into a vicious cycle that stimulates anxiety.
[Seong Tae-yoon/Professor, Department of Economics, Yonsei University: There is a risk that the overall price will continue to rise due to omnidirectional inflation, and financial market instability may spread as the people's living expenses deepen.]
The day after the Bank of Korea (26th) interest rate A meeting is scheduled to take place, and the prospect of raising interest rates for the second month in a row to quell inflationary sentiment early is giving strength.
(Video editing: Park Jeong-sam, VJ: Park Hyun-woo)