S. Korean raw material prices fall in January
South Korea's January 2005 price index of raw materials and intermediate goods fell 0.5% from a month earlier, the Central Bank of South Korea said. However, the January index was up 5.6% year-on-year. The oversupply in intermediate goods and the appreciation of the Won against the US Dollar contributed to the index's monthly decline. At the same time, the rise in the Won eased inflationary pressures and lowered the prices of imported goods.