South Korea’s consumer prices rose two-point-six percent in August from a year earlier.
 
That’s the largest on-year gain since April 2012, when prices also hit two-point-six percent.
 
Statistics Korea said on Friday that vegetable prices surged 22-point-five percent last month, driving up total consumer prices by point-37 percentage points.
 
The prices of agricultural and fishery products jumped 12-point-two percent, pulling up consumer prices by point-96 percentage points.
 
Prices of industrial products also increased by one percent last month due to higher oil products costs.
 
The consumer price index for living necessities jumped three-point-seven percent, the largest gain since December 2011, when it increased four-point-four percent.
 
The index for fresh vegetables and fruits also surged 18-point-three percent in August, posting the largest growth since February 2011, when it jumped 21-point-six percent.