SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's consumer confidence remained sour in September amid lingering uncertainties at home and abroad, data by the central bank showed Tuesday.
The consumer sentiment index (CSI), which gauges consumers' overall sentiment over economic conditions, stood at a 7-month low of 99 in September, unchanged from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
The figure stayed below the benchmark level of 100 for two straight months after falling below the level in August for the first time in seven months. The CSI is based on survey responses from 1,984 households in 56 cities conducted between Sept. 11 and 18.
The still sour consumer confidence came amid the remaining uncertainties at home and abroad that stemmed mostly from the protracted European fiscal crisis and the global economic slump. Market watchers have increasingly become pessimistic over South Korea's economic growth outlook.
Several sub-indices showed a dim picture. Consumer sentiment on current living standards fell 1 point on-month to 86 in September, and the figure on prospective living conditions stayed unchanged at 92.
In September, consumer sentiment on current economic conditions slid 1 point to 66, but that on prospective economic conditions rising 1 point to 79. Consumer sentiment on prospective income remained steady at 94, but that on prospective spending declined 2 points to 105.
South Korean consumer's expectation for inflation kept its downward trend. Inflation expectation over the next 12 months came in at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in September, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. The figure was the lowest in 21 months.
|
