South Korea’s consumer prices rose 2.1% in July from a year earlier, matching market expectations and easing slightly from June’s 2.2%, according to Statistics Korea. On a monthly basis, prices gained 0.2%, the fastest increase in four months. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, held at 2.0% year-on-year. The statistics agency said a weaker won lifted import costs for industrial goods, while service prices continued to climb. Processed foods were up 4.1% on the year and service charges rose 2.3%. Electricity and gas prices advanced 1.6%, whereas petroleum products fell 1.0%, moderating overall energy inflation. In Chile, July inflation surprised on the upside. The consumer price index increased 0.9% from June—above the 0.6% consensus—pushing the annual rate to 4.3%, data from the National Statistics Institute showed. Housing and utilities costs jumped 1.5%, driven by a 7.3% rise in electricity tariffs, while food and non-alcoholic beverages climbed 0.9%. The contrasting prints highlight regional differences: South Korean inflation remains close to the Bank of Korea’s 2% target, whereas Chile’s reading underscores lingering cost-of-living pressures tied to energy prices.