한은, 12월 소비자심리지수 발표...3개월만에 소폭 반등<br /><br />Consumer sentiment rebounded this month... after slumping to a 21-month low in November. <br />The nation's central bank attributed the slight uptick to people's expectations they'll earn more next year...thanks to the higher minimum wage.<br />But according to our Ko Roon-hee that positive development doesn't paint the full picture. <br />South Korea's consumer confidence ticked up in December...after hitting its lowest point in almost two years last month. <br />The Bank of Korea says the composite consumer sentiment index was at 97-point-2 points in December... up more than a point from the previous month. <br />However, a reading below 100 indicates there are more pessimists than optimists about the economy.<br />The central bank attributed the slight rebound to people expecting to earn and spend more next year -- mainly due to the higher minimum wage.<br />There are six main indices that constitute the composite sentiment index, and the one specifically for prospective household income jumped by two points in December compared to the previous month.<br />The index for prospective household spending also rose by a point. <br />In South Korea, the minimum wage was increased by more than 16-percent this year, and 10-point-nine percent rise is slated for 2019.<br />However, the overall situation remains grim... because the composite consumer sentiment index has been under the 100-point threshold for three consecutive months.<br />This is mainly due to people having low confidence about the health of the local economy. <br />For instance, the index measuring sentiment regarding the current economic conditions has been stuck below 80 points since July.<br /> The index related to consumers' living standards also dropped...due to the rise in consumer prices...mainly food.<br />Vegetable prices, for example, surged more than 14-percent on-year last month...due to the lasting impact of the record heatwave and heavy rainfall in the summer.<br />The central bank also pointed out that the index for prospective housing prices marked its lowest since February last year...meaning many people expect prices to fall in the near future.<br />Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News. <br />
