CreatripTeam

South Korea saw notable price increases in everyday groceries this quarter. A consumer watchdog found that prices for 38 essential items sold at 420 retailers in Seoul and Gyeonggi rose an average of 3.3% in Q3, with 32 items up by an average of 4.3%. The biggest increases were in coffee mixes (18.7%), eggs (15.4%), cereal (10.0%), ham (9.6%), and beer (8.2%). Popular brands like Dongseo Food’s Maxim Mocha Gold mix and Namyang Dairy’s French Cafe mix rose about 19% and 18% respectively. Egg prices climbed due to lower laying rates and unstable supply; a carton averaged 8,452 won in Q3. The watchdog warned that ongoing climate risks and global uncertainty could keep essential goods costly and called for long-term price stability and supply-chain strategies. (won: Korean currency)