South Korea October import prices up 13.5% year-on-year, export prices up 36.7%

The persistence of double-digit annual gains in both import and export prices points to broad price pressure running through South Korea's trade channels rather than a one-off distortion. The gap between the two measures is the notable detail: export prices are rising far faster than import prices, which has implications for the terms of trade and for the margins of the export-heavy manufacturers that anchor the economy. The downward revisions to prior readings suggest some cooling at the margin, but the levels remain elevated. Whether that moderation extends into subsequent months is the open question worth tracking.