One-person households seem to have felt the pinch from soaring inflation last year more than other social demographics as prices of popular items among single people surged at a relatively steep rate.

According to data by Statistics Korea, 50 items that are high on singles' shopping lists saw their prices rise by an average of 5.4 percent in 2011, compared to the 4 percent level of inflation posted overall in Korea last year.

Prices of food items like sausages, ham, canned fruit, soup and instant meals -- favored by singles as they are easy to cook -- rose by over 10 percent. Adding to people’s woes, the cost of bottled water, fizzy drinks, language courses and eating out saw inflation rates match 10-year highs.

"Consumer prices rose 4 percent last year, but as processed food prices and the costs of dining out went up at a faster pace, singles would have been the hardest hit," said a member of the Hyundai Research Institute.