Production in all industries turned downward after growing 1.2 percent in March and 0.9 percent in April respectively, according to Statistics Korea. The production slide came as export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, kept contracting for the sixth consecutive month through May.
Retail sales, which gauge private consumption, grew 0.9 percent on the government's efforts to narrow income gap by raising earnings among the low-income bracket.
Facility investment tumbled 8.2 percent in May from a month ago, after rising 10.1 percent in March and 4.6 percent in April each.
Latest comments