SEOUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Price for imported goods to South Korea has risen for the third successive month in April due to the local currency's depreciation to the U.S. dollar, central bank data showed Tuesday.
The import price index added 0.7 percent in April from a month earlier, after increasing 1.9 percent in February and 0.8 percent in March, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
The average won/dollar exchange rate advanced to 1,320.01 won per dollar in April from 1,305.73 won in the prior month.
Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 83.44 U.S. dollars per barrel in April, up from 78.51 dollars in the previous month.
Price for imported raw materials gained 1.9 percent last month, but intermediary goods price retreated 0.4 percent on lower prices for oil products.
Import prices for capital and consumer goods went up 1.6 percent and 0.2 percent respectively.
The export price index added 0.1 percent in April on a monthly basis, keeping an upward trend for the third straight month.