South Korea’s producer prices rose for the third straight month though the level is still slightly lower than a year ago.

According to preliminary data released on Friday by the Bank of Korea, the producer price index(PPI) stood at 99-point-45 in October, up by zero-point-two percentage points from September.

The PPI recorded on-month jumps for the third consecutive month after a small decline by zero-point-one percentage points in July.

The October figure, however, slipped zero-point-two percentage points from 99-point-65 recorded in the same month last year.

The PPI is a barometer of future consumer inflation as it indicates wholesale prices of producers, which are reflected in consumer prices one or two months later.