SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's consumer sentiment rebounded in September, driven by reduced volatility in the domestic stock market and growing optimism over improved income, central bank data showed Wednesday.
The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI), which gauges the sentiment of consumers over the economic situation, rose 2.1 points from a month earlier to 106.6 in September after falling 2.3 points in August, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
A reading above the benchmark 100 indicates that optimists outnumbered pessimists. It was based on a survey of 2,226 households nationwide conducted between Sept. 9 and 16.
The sub-index for future household income gained 2 points to 102, supported by expectations for improving wage conditions amid expanding economic growth.
The sub-index for current economic situation advanced 4 points to 83 on the back of robust economic performance, particularly in exports and consumption, combined with a stabilizing stock market.
The index for housing price outlook was unchanged at 125 as soaring apartment prices in the Seoul metropolitan area were countered by the government's real estate stabilization measures and the central bank's interest rate hikes.
The BOK delivered back-to-back rate hikes in July and August, raising its benchmark interest rate to 3 percent.
Inflation expectations, which measure the outlook among consumers over headline inflation for the next 12 months, stood unchanged at 2.7 percent in September compared to the previous month. ■