SEOUL, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Price for imported goods to South Korea rose for the third straight month due to higher crude oil prices that offset the local currency's appreciation versus the U.S. dollar, central bank data showed Tuesday.
The import price index added 0.4 percent in March from a month earlier after advancing 2.5 percent in January and 1.0 percent in February, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 84.18 U.S. dollars per barrel in March, up 4.1 percent compared to the previous month.
The average won/dollar exchange rate slipped to 1,330.70 won per dollar in March from 1,331.74 won in the prior month.
Price for imported raw materials gained 0.9 percent in March on a monthly basis after spiking 4.0 percent in January and 2.0 percent in February.
Import price for intermediary goods, including oil products, increased 0.4 percent last month, keeping an upward trend for the third consecutive month.
Price for imported capital goods was up 0.1 percent, but consumer goods price was down 0.2 percent.
The export price index went up 0.4 percent in March on a monthly basis, after mounting 3.1 percent in January and 1.6 percent in February. ■
