S. Korea's import price turns downward in June

SEOUL, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Price for imported goods to South Korea turned downward due to lower crude oil price, central bank data showed Wednesday.

The import price index declined 4.4 percent in June from a month earlier, after inching up 0.2 percent in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

Price for Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 79.45 U.S. dollars per barrel in June, sharply down from 103.15 dollars in May.

The average South Korean won versus U.S. dollar exchange rate gained to 1,527.30 won in June from 1,490.11 won in the prior month.

Price for imported raw materials, including mining products, dived 10.3 percent in June on a monthly basis, keeping a downward trend for three consecutive months.

Import price for intermediary goods retreated 3.2 percent amid a double-digit decrease in oil products price.

Price for both imported capital and consumer goods advanced 1.6 percent last month.

The export price index stood unchanged in June from a month earlier on the back of lower oil products price that offset the higher won versus dollar exchange rate. Enditem