The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Economy backed by exports, domestic consumption despite growing uncertainties: finance ministry

By Yonhap

Published : Oct. 12, 2018 - 10:57

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South Korea's economy is showing decent growth on the back of robust exports and domestic consumption, although capital spending and job creation remain sluggish and external uncertainties are on the rise, a government report said Friday.

A weaker job market, rate hikes in the United States and rising oil prices pose downside risks for Asia's fourth-largest economy, the finance ministry said in its monthly economic assessment report.

"The economy is still on a firm growth path backed by sound export and private spending, but facility investment and job conditions remain fragile, and uncertainties increased over the trade conflict between the U.S. and China and rising oil prices," it added.


Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon speaks during a press conference at the finance ministry in Sejong, South Korea, on May 2, 2018. (Yonhap) Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon speaks during a press conference at the finance ministry in Sejong, South Korea, on May 2, 2018. (Yonhap)

The report, called the "Green Book," is based on the latest economic indicators of such key factors as output, exports, consumption and corporate investment, which provide clues as to how the economy has been faring in recent months.

The country's industrial output rose 2.5 percent in August compared with a year earlier, following a 1.0 percent on-year rise the previous month.

Retail sales gained 6 percent in August from a year earlier, accelerating from the previous month's 5.7 percent on-year rise.

The services production index gained 1.6 percent in August, compared with a 2.1 percent on-year rise the previous month.

In August, job additions reached 3,000, slowing from July's 5,000.

Facility investment dipped 11.2 percent in August, following the previous month's 10.1 percent on-year decrease.

On the export front, the country's exports slipped in September compared with a year ago due to fewer working days and a high base effect, despite the high daily volume of products shipped abroad.

Outbound shipments reached $50.58 billion last month, down 8.2 percent from a year ago, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Average daily exports reached $2.69 billion in September, constituting a record high.

There were only 19.5 working days in September this year due to the Sept. 24-26 Chuseok holiday, resulting in four fewer days compared with September 2017. (Yonhap)