For the first time in five months, the three major indicators of industrial activity in South Korea all went up.<br />Statistics Korea says industrial output across all sectors edged up half-a-percent in August compared to the previous month, mostly on the back of increased output in the service sector.<br />Retail sales jumped three-point-nine percent, the biggest increase since January 2011, mainly driven by automobile purchases and Chuseok gifts.<br />Facility investment rose one-point-nine percent, continuing its upward trend for the third month in a row.<br />The coincident index, which measures the current economic conditions in the business cycle, also rose for the first time in three months.<br />However, the leading economic index, which shows future business conditions, fell for the fourth straight month.<br />
