South Korea's industrial output fell again in June,… adding to the already low overall production figure from May.... amid reduced production in the nation's service sector.
Lee Min-sun reports.
South Korea's overall industrial output fell zero-point-seven percent in June compared to a month earlier due to slumping production in the service sectors.
Data released by Statistics Korea show industrial production rose zero-point-nine percent in April on-month and edged down zero-point-three percent in May.
June's production was down for the second straight month and it's the worst it has been since February, when the figure plunged one-point-nine percent, which was the biggest drop in six years.
By sector, production in the service sector shed one-percent on-month in June,... while manufacturing production edged up zero-point-two percent.
That was due to a 4.6 percent increase in semiconductor production that countered a 3.3% decline in auto production.
However, the total figure was still 2.9 percent lower than the overall output seen in the manufacturing sector in June 2018.
Retail sales also dropped 1.6 percent in June due to falling car and clothing sales.
Facility investment rose zero-point-four percent in June due to increased imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and transportation equipment.
Statistics Korea says the increase in facility investment in June was due to a big slump in May, but it was still down from a year earlier.
In addition, economic output indicators have been negative since March.
Lee Min-sun, Arirang News.