Overview

• Statistics Korea reported that overall industrial production was unchanged from July.
• Retail sales fell 2.4% month over month, the steepest decline since February 2024.
• Facility investment declined 1.1%, with a 6% fall in transport equipment outweighing gains in machinery.
• Mining and manufacturing output rose 2.4%, led by autos up 21.2% and medical goods up 11%, while semiconductor production fell 3.1%.
• Service-sector output contracted 0.7%, effectively canceling the goods-sector increase after two straight monthly gains in production and sales.