Although consumer price inflation has recently slowed, service price inflation has risen to the highest level in 21 years.
According to the National Statistical Portal of the National Statistical Office, the service price index rose 4.2% last month from a year earlier, recording the highest rate of increase since October 2001.
By item, the price of personal service, which accounts for more than half of the service sector, rose 6.4%. In particular, the price of dining out rose 9%, the highest level in 30 years and 2 months.
The food items that went up the most were hamburgers 13.5%, galbitang and gimbap 12.9%, jajangmyeon 12.2%, and haejangguk 12.1%.
In addition to dining out items, domestic group travel expenses increased by 24.7%, a significant jump.
The rise in service prices shows that inflationary pressure is spreading to all sectors, such as agricultural products and petroleum products.
As service prices continue to rise, it is predicted that the high inflation of 5% will continue for the time being, even if the overall consumer price rise has passed the peak.