S.Korea Oct annual CPI growth eases to 2.0 pct

Published: 01 Nov 2009 20:44:05 PST

SEOUL, Nov 2 - South Korean consumer price inflation slowed in October, government data showed on Monday, easing pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates from their record lows.

Consumer prices in Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 2.0 percent from a year ago in October, less than a 2.4 percent forecast in a Reuters poll and a 2.2 percent gain in September.

The consumer price index in October fell 0.3 percent from September, the data showed.

The monthly reading is not adjusted for seasonal patterns.

The annual rate of core inflation, which strips out volatile food and fuel prices, was 2.6 percent in October, compared with 2.7 percent in September, the National Statistical Office data showed.