SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) — South Korea’s industrial output rebounded in September, with facility investment surging in double digits amid a semiconductor boom, statistical office data showed Friday.
The seasonally-adjusted production index in all industries, which excludes the agriculture, livestock and fishery sector, gained 1.0 percent in September from a month earlier after sliding 0.3 percent in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.
Output among manufacturers declined 1.1 percent, but production in the construction industry jumped 11.4 percent.
Production in the service industry grew 1.8 percent last month, but output in the public administration sector shrank 1.2 percent.
Semiconductor production soared 19.6 percent in September on a monthly basis, but automotive output retreated 18.3 percent.
Manufacturers posted an average capacity ratio of 73.4 percent in September, down 1.2 percentage points compared to the previous month.
The retail sale index, which reflects private consumption, dwindled 0.1 percent last month after declining 2.4 percent in the previous month.
Facility investment spiked 12.7 percent on strong demand for semiconductor equipment and transport equipment.
The cyclical variation factor for leading economic indicators, which gauges the outlook for future economic situations, added 0.1 point over the month to 102.1 in September.
The reading for coincident economic indicators, which measures the current economic condition, rose 0.2 points to 99.4 in the cited month. ■