The disposable monthly income of the lowest-income brackets fell 16 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier due to reduced earnings, official data showed Monday.

The disposable monthly income of the lowest 10 percent income group came to 717,000 won ($610) in the July-September period, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.

It marked the biggest decline since 2003 when the statistics office began compiling relevant data.

The disposable monthly income of the lowest 10 percent income group had been on the rise between the fourth quarter of 2013 and last year. But their monthly income began to fall earlier this year due to the slowing economy.

Experts said the decline in their disposable monthly income appears to be blamed on the drop of temporary day labor jobs. (Yonhap)