Industrial output rises in South Korea

Official data, issued yesterday, showed that industrial output, retail sales, and investment in establishments in South Korea rose during last March compared to February, and this is the first time, since last September, that the three indicators recorded growth on a monthly basis.

The Korean Yonhap News Agency quoted the Ministry of Data and Statistics as saying that industrial production rose by 0.3% last month, recording growth for the second month in a row.

The ministry said that retail sales, an indicator of private spending, rose by 1.8%, while investment in facilities rose by 1.5% on a monthly basis, supported by increased spending on transportation equipment, which jumped by 5.2%.