South Korea's producer prices rose 7.7 percent from a year earlier as chip prices dipped in September

Producer prices in South Korea edged up again in September. The preliminary index rose 0.2 percent from August and stood 7.7 percent above a year earlier, the Bank of Korea reported Wednesday, a touch below the 7.9 percent annual rate for August.

Chips cooled.

Semiconductor prices fell 1.3 percent during the month, and computers and peripherals dropped 8.7 percent, yet both remain far above last year's levels, with semiconductors up 134.0 percent and computers up 135.7 percent on the year. Coal and petroleum products rose 0.9 percent on the month and 53.6 percent over the year.

Farm, forestry and marine prices climbed 2.6 percent, while utilities rose 1.3 percent. The broader domestic supply index was flat on the month and 8.5 percent higher on the year. All of the figures may be revised next month.