<Anchor> In



the new year, the biggest concern is whether our housekeeping will improve.

I want to tell you only the good news that life has improved this year, but the reality is that it is still as cold as the weather.

Reporters are out at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul to hear what our people are worried about and what they are worried about.



Reporter Jeon Byeong-nam, it's the first day of the new year, how is the market atmosphere?



<Reporter>



Yes, it has decreased a bit now, but the market was crowded with citizens all day today (the 1st), the first day of the new year.



Merchants and citizens alike expected a better year than last year.



However, the heavy atmosphere was also read everywhere.



I was particularly concerned about high prices.



[Yoo Yeon-hee/Gwangjang Market Merchant: Since no one lives while prices are rising, I can't fully say sales.



[Oh Jung-suk/Gwangjang Market Merchant: It is difficult to spend money and it is difficult for the common people to live because the price of goods has risen a lot, now.]

Last year,



the consumer price increase rate was 5.1%, 24 years since the IMF financial crisis. recorded the highest ever.



It is said to be lowered to 3.5% this year, but it is still a high figure, and an increase of around 5% is expected to continue at the beginning of this year.



Electricity rates have already been announced, and prices of items closely related to the economy of the common people, such as gas rates and public transportation, are expected to rise one after another.



There are also concerns that the price of agricultural and marine products will rise again ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.



<Anchor>



High prices and interest rate hikes must be a big burden for the common people.



<Reporter>



Yes, if you look at the bank's credit loan interest rate, it is close to 8% per year.



If the interest rate rises further, the ability to consume will decrease by that much, and the number of ordinary people who are driven to marginal situations will inevitably increase.



In addition, as companies in sluggishness are reducing their workforce, the employment market is also experiencing a cold wave, so consumer sentiment is expected to shrink further.



Consumption has already declined for three consecutive months as of November last year.



The government, which has to catch both the price and the economy, is planning to put out price stabilization as a top priority and introduce 'measures for stabilizing the public livelihood of the Lunar New Year' early this week.



In addition, the plan is to mobilize all policy measures, such as releasing more than 65% of the budget in the first half, the highest level ever, and expanding support for the vulnerable.



(Video coverage: Yoon Hyung, video editing: Jung Yong-hwa)