Park Ji-hyun, a working mother living in Bangbae-dong, southern Seoul, said she is surprised when she goes grocery shopping every weekend.
"It is difficult to find anything whose price has not risen. We have been refraining from eating out as restaurants have raised prices, but cooking at home has also become expensive," she said.
According to Statistics Korea, Wednesday, consumer prices rose 1.6 percent in April from a year ago, hovering stably below 2 percent for seven consecutive months.
However, inflation perceived by consumers is much higher. They especially feel the pressure at grocery stores and restaurants. The
fresh food prices index marked a 4.7 percent rise in April compared with a year ago, jumping from a 1 percent rise the previous month.
Comment: The effect of the increasingly erratic seasons have been taking their toll for years and, as the weather reaches new extremes, food manufacturers and farmers can no longer hide the costs. From ranching to vegetables, our food chain is suffering and for now we're seeing prices soar, soon enough there'll be food shortages to worry about: