Korea's industrial output increased once again in April after the rebound in March,... but retail sales were poor because of a slump in sales of home appliances and electronics.<br />Kim Da-mi has the details. <br />South Korea's industrial output was up for the second month in a row in April.<br />Statistics Korea said on Friday, the figure rose zero-point-seven percent last month,... thanks to the increased production of semiconductors and petroleum and stronger activity in the service sector.<br />Industrial output had rebounded one-point-five percent on-month in March after falling two-point-seven percent in February. <br />Semiconductor production rose six-point-five percent in April from a month earlier after new mobile phone releases,... while production in the oil refinement sector was up eleven-point-two percent.<br />Sales growth in machinery also led to a four-point-six percent spike in facility investment... despite the drop in the automobile sector.<br />Production in the service sector went up zero-point-three percent on-month.<br />Retail sales, however, dropped one-point-two percent during the same period because of fewer sales of home appliances and electronics. <br />Back in March, fine dust pollution led to strong sales of domestic appliances like air purifiers.<br />As well as poor retail sales in April,... Korea's composite consumer sentiment fell in May for the first time in about half a year.<br />The Bank of Korea said on Tuesday, the figure stood at 97-point-9... down 3-point-7 points from the month before. <br />The BOK attributed the fall to negative responses to the escalating U.S.-China trade war, sluggish domestic economic growth and falling stock prices.<br />Kim Da-mi, Arirang News. <br />
