South Korea’s Import Price Index swung back into positive territory in February 2026, rising 1.2% year-over-year, according to data updated on 16 March 2026. This follows a 0.9% decline in January 2026, when the index had fallen 0.9% compared with January a year earlier.
The turnaround from a -0.9% annual change in January to a 1.2% annual increase in February suggests a firming in imported cost pressures for the South Korean economy. The figures are based on year-over-year comparisons, with each month measured against the same month of the previous year. While the underlying drivers were not disclosed, the shift signals that import-related price dynamics have strengthened notably as the country moves through the first quarter of 2026.
