韩国10月通胀意外加速至2.4%，或促使央行延长宽松周期暂停期

Core Insights - South Korea's consumer inflation accelerated in October, driven by the depreciation of the won, which increased energy and food costs, reinforcing the central bank's rationale for extending the pause in its monetary easing cycle [1][5][6] Inflation Data - October consumer prices rose by 2.4% year-on-year, up from 2.1% in September, surpassing economists' median forecast of 2.2%, marking the fastest growth since July 2024 [1][4] - Core inflation, excluding volatile food and energy items, increased from 2% in September to 2.2% in October, with both overall and core inflation rates currently above the Bank of Korea's 2% target [1][5] Currency Impact - The won depreciated nearly 1.9% against the dollar in October, reaching its weakest level since March, which contributed to rising import prices for energy and food [6] - The weakening of the won has limited the central bank's options for further monetary easing, as it faces pressures from rising housing prices in Seoul [5][6] Economic Context - The Bank of Korea has maintained the benchmark interest rate at 2.5% during its last three meetings, amid concerns over asset bubbles and financial stability related to household debt [5][6] - Economists are divided on whether the central bank will cut rates in its final policy meeting of the year on November 27, as they assess the stability of housing prices in the capital region [6][7] Recent Economic Performance - The third quarter saw stronger-than-expected economic growth, supported by resilient exports and domestic spending, with GDP growing by 1.2% quarter-on-quarter, exceeding the forecast of 1% [7]