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South Korea Factory Output Rebounds in November on Chip Strength as Retail Sales Slide

The weaker‑than‑forecast readings point to a recovery led by chips over household spending.

Overview

  • Industrial production rose month over month in November, with Reuters citing a seasonally adjusted 0.6% gain versus a 2.2% rise expected by economists.
  • Yonhap reported overall industrial output up 0.9% on the month, driven by a 7.5% surge in semiconductor production.
  • From a year earlier, output fell 1.4%, improving from an 8.2% drop in October but short of the 3.0% increase economists projected.
  • Retail sales declined 3.3% on the month, the sharpest drop in 21 months, underscoring weak private consumption.
  • Facility investment increased 1.5%, led by higher spending on machinery, while investment in transportation equipment fell.