Korea's industrial output, consumption, investment all fall in October

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Industrial output fell in October on a marked decline in the production of the semiconductor sector. Pictured is a semiconductor displayed at the SEDEX semiconductor convention held in October. [NEWS1]
Industrial output fell in October on a marked decline in the production of the semiconductor sector. Pictured is a semiconductor displayed at the SEDEX semiconductor convention held in October.

The three measures indicating the state of domestic industrial activity, output, consumption and investment, all fell in October, data showed on Tuesday.

Industrial production dropped 1.6 percent on-month in October following two months of gains, according to Statistics Korea.

October's decline came as the production of the semiconductor sector logged an 11.4 percent on-month fall.

Retail sales, a gauge of private spending, fell 0.8 percent on-month on weak demand for food and other non-durable goods.

Facility investment also slid 3.3 percent, compared with the 8.7 percent rise a month earlier, according to the data.

It is the first time in three months that all three measures showed declines. Compared with a year earlier, industrial output rose 1 percent last month. 

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]