<Anchor>
Inflation is highly likely to rise further in the future.
This is because electricity and gas rates are rising, and food material prices are expected to rise one after another.
There are also concerns that the inflation rate could exceed 7% if this continues.
Next is reporter Jeong Hye-jin.
<Reporter> In
a traditional market in Seoul, this pretzel shop is worried about the price of edible milk for frying that is rising day by day.
[Pretzel Shop Merchant: It has risen 3 times.
Last year, it was 24,000 won and 25,000 won, all in one bottle.
Now it's 7 million won.
Even 70,000 won is hard to buy now.]
Cooking oil and flour are almost non-rising, but imported grains are expected to rise by 13.4% in the third quarter as contract prices that have risen since the Ukraine crisis came in.
When the price of imported grain rises, domestic food and restaurant prices also rise.
In addition, food material prices are expected to rise due to the summer vacation season and demand for early Chuseok holiday items.
In addition, from this month, the increase in electricity and gas rates will be reflected in the inflation rate, and the electricity rate is expected to rise by 4.9 won in October, so it will be raised by at least 15.1% this year alone.
International oil prices also show no sign of breaking down due to the prolonged war in Ukraine.
Although the price burden is being reduced by lowering the fuel tax, additional measures are not feasible as it has already been expanded to the maximum extent.
[Eo Woon-seon/Statistics Office Economic Trend Statistical Review Officer: International oil prices rise and energy prices rise, but they are also affecting the material cost hikes for industrial products and food service items.
Authorities believe that prices may rise to the 7% level in the second half of the year unless import prices such as energy and raw materials fall.