SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's government saw an economic recovery trend for the fourth straight month, driven by improved consumption and semiconductor export boom, a finance ministry report said Friday.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance said in its monthly report, called Green Book, that the South Korean economy recently showed a continuing trend of economic recovery on the back of the enhanced domestic demand, including consumer spending, and robust exports centered on semiconductors.
The ministry noted that the recovery trend resumed in November last year after undergoing a temporary adjustment, but it cautioned that uncertainties remained such as the persisting employment difficulties among vulnerable groups, the pace of construction investment recovery and the effect of the U.S. tariffs imposition.
Regarding the global economy, concerns lingered about persistent volatility in the global financial market and slump in trade and growth, caused by the worsened trade environment and geopolitical uncertainty, the ministry added.
Retail sales expanded 0.9 percent in December from a month earlier, but facility investment tumbled 3.6 percent.
The consumer sentiment index gained 1.0 point over the month to 110.8 in January, hovering above the long-term average of 100 to indicate optimists outnumbered pessimist.
The daily average export mounted 14.0 percent in January from a year earlier due to solid semiconductor demand.
The number of jobs grew 108,000 in January from a year earlier, lower than an expansion of 168,000 in the previous month.
Consumer prices rose 2.0 percent in January on a yearly basis, equaling the central bank's mid-term inflation target of 2 percent. ■
