SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Prices for goods and services among South Korean suppliers rose for the second straight month, fueled by holiday-driven agricultural costs and higher utility bills, central bank data showed Wednesday.
The producer price index increased 0.2 percent in September from a month earlier, after ticking up 0.1 percent in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea.
The growth was led by higher farm goods prices ahead of the late September traditional Chuseok holiday, alongside higher residential electricity rates after the summer progressive billing discount came to an end.
Producer prices for agricultural, livestock and fishery products advanced 2.6 percent month-on-month in September.
Prices for electricity, gas, water and waste among suppliers rose 1.3 percent, propelled by a 13.4 percent surge in residential electricity rates.
Prices for industrial products, including oil products, remained flat as higher chemical product prices offset a decline in prices for computer, electronic and optical devices.
Service prices were down 0.1 percent, affected by lower room rates for hotels and tourist lodging facilities. ■