South Korean inflation expectations hit 7-month low

SEOUL, Dec 27 (Reuters) – A significant measure of the inflation expectations of South Korean shoppers hit a seven-month low in December, underscoring the market’s view that the Financial institution of Korea’s coverage tightening cycle is nearing an finish.

Customers anticipated inflation for the following 12 months to be a median 3.8%, the Financial institution of Korea’s month-to-month survey confirmed, down from 4.2% in November and the bottom since 3.3% in Could.

In the identical survey, the Client Sentiment Index (CSI) rose barely to 89.9 in December, after two successive months of decline, to 88.8 in October and 86.5 in November, from 91.4 in September, it mentioned in an announcement.

The Financial institution of Korea was among the many first main economic system central banks to start elevating rates of interest, in August final yr, and has as much as November, raised its coverage price by a complete of 275 foundation factors in 9 steps to three.25%.

Within the newest Reuters ballot, nearly all of analysts anticipated the Financial institution of Korea to boost the speed as soon as once more in early 2023, to three.5%, after which cease its tightening cycle.

Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Modifying by Robert Birsel

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