Consumer prices surged 1% in March.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Sim Sung-tae Korea's consumer prices recorded their biggest monthly gain in a year last month, according to data from the National Statistical Office yesterday, casting a dark cloud over the country's weak economy.

The consumer price index, which measures changes in the retail prices paid by consumers, climbed 1.0 percent in March from a month earlier. The figure was the greatest gain since the 1.2 percent rise in March last year.

The statistics office attributed the rise in consumer prices largely to higher food and energy prices and education fees.

Food prices jumped 1.5 percent on-month and 5.8 percent on-year …