S. Korea's producer price falls for 2nd month in May

SEOUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Prices for goods and services among South Korean suppliers fell for the second consecutive month due to lower price for farm goods and oil products, central bank data showed Friday.

The producer price index (PPI) dipped 0.4 percent in May from a month earlier after sliding 0.2 percent in the prior month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

Producer price for industrial products, including oil products, retreated 0.6 percent in May on a monthly basis.

Prices for coal and oil products dropped 4.2 percent, and those for chemicals, metal products, computers, and electronic and optical devices slipped in single digits.

Prices for agricultural, livestock and fishery products among suppliers tumbled 4.4 percent last month on lower price for agricultural products that offset an increase in livestock products.

Prices for electricity, natural gas and tap water slumped 0.6 percent in May from a month earlier.

Service prices rose 0.2 percent due to higher expense for the eatery and lodging, the finance and insurance, the real estate services. ■