SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Prices for imported goods to South Korea fell for a second successive month, driven by a decline in global oil prices and the South Korean won versus U.S. dollar exchange rate, central bank data showed Friday.
The import price index slipped 1 percent in July from a month earlier after going down 4.2 percent in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea.
The price for Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 76.75 U.S. dollars per barrel in July, down 3.4 percent from a month earlier.
The average won-versus-dollar exchange rate retreated 2 percent over the month to 1,497.43 won in July.
Prices for imported raw materials, including mining products, added 0.8 percent in July on a monthly basis, marking the first rebound in four months.
Import prices for intermediary goods declined 2.2 percent as the lower exchange rate and oil prices reduced costs for petroleum and primary metal products.
Prices for imported capital and consumer goods were down 1.8 percent and 0.1 percent each.
The export price index gained 1 percent in July from a month ago on the back of higher prices for semiconductors and computers. ■
