SEOUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Price for imported goods to South Korea fell for a second straight month due to lower crude oil price, central bank data showed Tuesday.
The import price index dipped 0.3 percent in May from a month earlier after decreasing 2.1 percent in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
Price for Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 103.15 U.S. dollars per barrel in May, slightly down from 105.70 dollars in April.
The average South Korean won versus U.S. dollar exchange rate slightly rose to 1,490.11 won in May from 1,487.39 won in the prior month.
Price for imported raw materials, including mining products, slipped 1.0 percent in May on a monthly basis, keeping an upward trend for two consecutive months.
Import price for intermediary goods stood unchanged in the cited month.
Price for both imported capital and consumer goods added 0.3 percent last month.
The export price index climbed 0.3 percent in May from a month earlier on the back of the local currency's descent against the greenback. ■
