SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's industrial output, private consumption and facility investment rebounded last month, marking the first "triple increase" in three months since June, statistical ministry data showed Friday.
The seasonally adjusted index of industrial production, which excludes the agriculture, livestock and fishery sectors, grew 3.0 percent in September from a month earlier, the fastest monthly increase in more than 15 years, since March 2011, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.
Industrial output turned around from a contraction of 1.2 percent in August, driven by a booming semiconductor sector, the end of labor strikes at automakers and the positive impact of new vehicle launches.
The retail sales index, a key gauge of consumer spending, rose 3.6 percent last month, posting the largest increase in three years and seven months, since February 2023.
Sales of durable goods, such as passenger cars, advanced 4.4 percent, while sales of non-durable goods, including food and beverages, rose 4.2 percent.
Facility investment also rebounded, expanding 5.3 percent in September from the previous month after plunging 9.7 percent in August. ■