Consumption in Korea
Korea - Consumption
Preliminary estimate shows economy contracting at fastest pace since 2008 in Q2
A preliminary GDP release by the Bank of Korea shows the economy shrank 3.2% in seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter (s.a. qoq) terms in Q2, following Q1’s 1.3% contraction, as the pandemic halted global trade, thereby hitting the key export sector hard. The print marks the sharpest contraction since Q4 2008. Moreover, the economy contracted 2.7% in annual terms in Q2, contrasting Q1’s 1.4% increase.
On the domestic front, the economy rebounded from the previous quarter, with private consumption growing 1.5% in Q2 (Q1: -6.5% s.a. qoq) as the virus was brought swiftly under control. Government consumption was up 1.1%, a slight deceleration from Q1’s 1.4% growth, but still marking a solid expansion amid stimulus measures. However, fixed investment lost ground on pervasive uncertainty, falling 0.4% in Q2, after having expanded 0.5% in Q1.
Exports of goods and services plunged 16.1% in Q2, significantly down from Q1’s 1.4% fall. Moreover, imports contracted 6.7%, which was down from Q1’s 3.6% decline.
Commenting on the outlook, Lloyd Chan, economist at Oxford Economics, noted:
“We expect the economy to rebound modestly in H2 2020, supported by a coordinated monetary and fiscal response, while the upturn in China’s economy should promote an export pick-up. But the recovery may be uneven without a vaccine. […] Renewed escalation of US-China tensions and South Korea’s trade dispute with Japan could pose further downside risks to growth.”
FocusEconomics panelists see the economy contracting 0.9% in 2020, which is down 0.1 percentage points from last month’s forecast, before growing 3.2% in 2021.
Korea - Consumption Data
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumption (annual variation in %) | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 1.7 |
Korea Facts
| Value | Change | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Yield | 1.68 | 1.55 % | Dec 31 |
| Exchange Rate | 1,156 | 0.21 % | Dec 31 |
Sample Report
Get a sample report showing our regional, country and commodities data and analysis.
Request a Trial
Start working with the reports used by the world’s major financial institutions, multinational enterprises & government agencies now. Click on the button below to get started.
Economic News
-
Korea: BOK keeps rates at all-time low in October
October 14, 2020
At its meeting on 14 October, the Bank of Korea (BOK) kept the base rate at its record low of 0.50%, in line with market expectations. The Bank’s decision to hold came amid weak activity and a deteriorating labor market.
-
Korea: Inflation hits highest level since March in September
October 6, 2020
Consumer prices increased 0.66% in September over the previous month, slightly up from the 0.61% increase recorded in August.
-
Korea: Manufacturing PMI reaches eight-month high in September
October 5, 2020
The IHS Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 49.8 in September from August’s 48.5, bordering the 50-threshold that separates an improvement from a deterioration in the manufacturing sector over the previous month. The print came as output grew for the first time in seven months.
-
Korea: Merchandise exports rebound in September on stronger IT shipments
October 1, 2020
Merchandise exports rose 7.7% in annual terms in September, rebounding from August’s 10.1% decline, amid an increasing demand for IT products due to the pandemic boosting home working.
-
Korea: Business confidence steady in October
September 29, 2020
Business confidence in the manufacturing sector was unchanged at September's 68.0 in October.
© Copyright: 2020. | Korea Consumption | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | RSS feed
