Producer prices increased for the fifth consecutive month in January, driven by a rise in the prices of farm and industrial products.

According to preliminary data released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the producer price index, a key indicator of future inflation, rose zero-point-six percent to 122-point-five in January from a month earlier.

The figure marks the fifth straight monthly gain.

Agricultural, forestry and fishery products rose zero-point-seven percent in January from the previous month.

Prices of industrial goods gained zero-point-six percent, led by a three percent rise in primary metal products and a one-point-eight percent gain in computers, electronics and optical equipment.

Service prices rose zero-point-seven percent, mainly driven by a four-point-seven percent increase in financial and insurance services.