SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The price for imported goods to South Korea rebounded in six months due to the domestic currency's depreciation against the U.S. dollar and higher price for crude oil, central bank data showed Thursday.
The import price index gained 0.9 percent in July from a month earlier, turning around after sliding for the past five months, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
The rebound was affected by the local currency's descent versus the greenback and expensive crude oil.
Price for Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 70.87 U.S. dollars per barrel in July, up from 69.26 dollars in the previous month.
The average won/dollar exchange rate advanced to 1,375.22 won per dollar in July from 1,366.95 won in June.
Price for imported raw materials rose 1.5 percent in July on a monthly basis, faster than the growth of 1.0 percent in the prior month.
Import price for intermediary goods went up 0.6 percent last month on higher prices for chemical products, primary metal products, electronic devices and electrical equipment.
Price for both imported capital and consumer goods added 0.5 precent in the cited month.
The export price index increased 1.0 percent in July from a month earlier, marking the first rebound in four months. ■
